Whistle & Song

I was surprised at how much fun it was to paint this antiquated train. The juxtaposition of one means of transportation being replaced by another was obvious when I added the horse and rider. There is a feeling of resignation and acceptance.

A couple of years ago I participated in a plein air quick draw in Cumberland, Maryland, a coal town still very reliant on train transport. I set up my easel close to the tracks and began painting. In a short time a chugging, smoke belching antique train came around the bend and I watched with amused interest as it passed and continued down the tracks. When I returned to my painting, there were now bits of black coal soot embedded into the wet paint!