-- a new sign for a new supported community project.
Les jumps right in and is almost immediately swallowed by the farm.
It's early spring and the work is about to begin.
Let's start with sketches of what is before us.
Out comes the handmade black walnut ink.
He's often in the middle of something.
The McDuffie Barn was rebuilt in its' current location by Greg Talbott.
Now a C.S.A. pack shed, the McDuffie Barn used to be frequented by Greg Talbott's mother as she put tobacco up.
Farmer Eva nabs a photo of a fresh illustration from right in the field.
-- a lovely chaotic quote.
Jean, widow of Greg, and her new way to celebrate family and creativity.
The handmade greenhouse poses for the second illustration.
Though light, this deft pencil sketch of the greenhouse will soon guide the black walnut ink.
The greenhouse prim, inked, and framed on display.
Les III getting into his work with a broad fork.
Next up, the upper pasture and the low till way of growing marigolds is the site for illustration three.
-- a preliminary field sketch of the marigold field, black tarp, and irrigation lines.
To the left we see the muddied tarp that keeps weeds from growing.
The upper pasture final illiustration with marigolds reaching for the sky.
The 1816 Marley House began as a one room log cabin.
Additions to the Marley House helped to get it on the National Registry Of Historic Places.
The fourth illustration begins. Some of the nibs were quite fine, others were quite wide.
Goodness goes in. Goodness comes out.
Hello pretty lady.
All ink strokes were made with a dip pen and an array of ink nibs.
The Chatham Mills Market is the site for the fifth and final illustration. Les drew from the street perspective.
During the early morning drawing, above Farmer Eva sets up her weekly harvest for sale under canopy.
Les chooses an ink nib.
After the majority of the on-site work is blocked in, Les heads under the shade of the market canopy to meet new art lovers.
Gloriously grown sunflowers, celosias, and zinnias made it into the illustration.
The final illustration with as much of the sunrise and dew as possible.
-- a page from the project sketch book.
A sketch becomes a cute sticker.
The illustrations are complete and it's time for the project's next phase.
Thanks to ArtsGreensboro for grant support for this leg of the project. Notecards!
Early November hosts the RAFI grant celebration event at Heartstrong Farm.
Les and Eva try their hands at black walnut ink writing with feather quills.
The Pluck House is staged for the visual art portion of the event.
Each of the five illustrations are on exhibit.
Handmade black walnut ink from the farm and stickers round out the marketing items.
Personal notes laid out over the demo table.
Attendees try writing with the ink.
One of Les' students goes the extra mile, creating a portait of one of the farm's celebrities.
Nosh and beverage from many local businesses.
Thanks to all who attended the event.
Night falls about the Pluck House as the light continues to shine on the fruits of this project.