This painting is one that I painted “En Plein Air” near my home. It is a view of the road that I travel home on- in fact my home is on the left just past the curve up ahead in this painting. This land on the right of this road is sacred to me. I spent much of my time as a 4 and 5 year old riding in the combine with my Pop on this land. It is also the view I saw as I looked at out the large picture window of my childhood home that sits behind the viewer on the right side of this road. 
Until recently, there were no electric poles on this road. So when they began putting them up, I initially felt startled at the change and defensive for the space. But, being an artist, my eye quickly began composing scenes to paint with the new electric poles in the landscape. 
I have been asked, “Why put the light poles in the painting?” My answer is -for several reasons- 1. They balance the picture. 2. They lead you’re eye down the road 3. And lastly- because change happens: 4 year olds grow up, grandparents go to be with the Lord, someone else rents the farm land, a new owner buys your childhood home, and light poles go up.
 When you can’t change the inevitable, I say, keep finding beautiful compositions to paint. Hang on to the memories. I know that God gave me this gift of being an artist in order to help me and others to do both with our heads up because HE never changes.  There are no electric poles in heaven. And never will be. No one ever passes away there, and our home will always be with Him. So, while I live in this dirt- as sacred as it is to me- I want to keep my perspective. And in my painting and in life, the lightpoles have helped me do just that.