Sunday, May 26, 2013

Goat Lady Dairy - Tate Family Art Collection

The Piedmont Outdoor Painting Society (POPS), of which I have been a member for over 12 years, has had the privilege of painting at many unique farms due to our collaboration with the Piedmont Land Conservancy.


POPS Members with Steve Tate at The Goat Lady Dairy
Keeping Watch - pastel

It was in 2005 that I first painted at the Goat Lady Dairy, founded by Ginny Tate, in Climax, NC.

Two Red Barns - plein-air painted at the Goat Lady Dairy in 2005

We held an exhibit of paintings we had done en plein air at Piedmont Land Conservancy sites and also studio pieces done from photos we had taken. The Tate family members bought several of our pieces. The fun part was that they were buying them as Christmas gifts for each other! The artists knew who bought what, but we had to be hush-hush! Ginny Tate later told me that this was the first time her family had become interested in collecting art and she was so thrilled with the enjoyment it had brought to them.

The Kids at Goat Lady Dairy - Tate Family Collection

Chicks at Goat Lady Dairy - Tate Family Collection

On a later visit to the farm I spotted Mrs. Tate on the deck, potting some plants, and snapped her photo. When I delivered the painting I had done of her to be exhibited at the Dairy's dining hall, she said she wanted to purchase it. I was so thrilled and flattered.

    
Mrs. Tate - Spring Planting - Tate Family Collection
 

Sadly, Mrs Tate and Ginny have both passed away since then. The latest piece I did of someone at the farm was this pastel that I painted of Ginny, walking through the yard carrying two of her kids!


Ginny Tate, founder of the Goat Lady Dairy.
Many thanks to Steve Tate for his permission
to paint from this family photo.

You can experience tours of the farm and a gourmet dinner of fresh, local food at the dairy's dining room. Details can be found at their website: www.goatladydairy.com.

Goat Lady Dairy products can be found at the NC Farmer's Market at Sandy Ridge Rd. exit off I-40 west of Greensboro.