The leather harness creaks as this mismatched team slowly makes its way up and down the field. On this beautiful autumn day only the farmer and his dog are there to see their furrow-making progress. The stone farmhouse in the background was built by another farmer many generations ago.

Although the horses occupy only a small part of the painting, the focus of this piece is the team. I was constantly aware of tightening the contrasts on the horses while softening down the background scenery.

I was drawn to the striking contrasts in black and white against the green field in this view of a ploughing team near Linwood.

I spend a good deal of time driving the roads of Mennonite country just hoping that I will see something that attracts me. I never know if an item will make a painting on its own or will only be a secondary player in a larger work. Keeping all these photos filed properly is a challenge.

Ament Line, Waterloo Region