"JD-HORSE POWER"

Medium - Oil Size - 16X20 inches

Every time I paint the big waterwheels of New Plymouth I get distracted with the landscape beyond the wooden wonders. Irrigation of the land has created its own culture of roads, canals, ditches, and farm equipment. Yet, it is the hard-working and fun-loving stewards who complete the circle of change. In the foreground are the children, another product of the land.

"WATER POWER"

As illustrated in my painting, the vintage wheel uses the power of water to turn it. It brings the water above the ditch and drops it into a chute. Finally, the thirsty fields, devoid of adequate rainfall, soak up the water. This wheel, as well as others, is located east of the small town of New Plymouth, Idaho. The first wheel was put into the Farmer’s Canal as early as 1904. Others followed; and the remaining few, located on the Noble Ditch, were built in the mid 1920’s. As they weather and age, they are slowly being replaced with electric pumps. There are perhaps only four giant wheels still pumping water from the canals today.

$1,300

"JD-HORSE POWER"

"WATER POWER"