These two paintings are based on real places in Fort Valley, Virginia, a landscape that has provided Lonnie with subjects close to home.
In Orie Munch’s Barn, the barn sits in a bright clearing surrounded by evergreens and fall color, with the long ridge stretching across the distance. Orie’s farm was the first Cullers farm in the fort, his mother was a Cullers. Orie lived to his 90’s. He lived across the creek from Lonnie and Lonnie saw Orie every day of his life growing up. Orie’s dad was a school teacher, so Orie was fond of lecturing about the rocks and plants and everything in the world.
Sam Stephen’s Cows looks across a vivid green pasture, where a small group of cattle stands facing the viewer beneath a broad, cloudy sky. His cows are boarding on Lonnie’s property up in Fort Valley called the Mack Place. This painting is of a picture Lonnie took.
Both paintings capture familiar scenes from rural Fort Valley, the farms, fields, animals, and mountain views that give the valley its character.
The image of the cows Lonnie took and used as the basis for the painting.
