Mike, what do you think?

[Mike McCarty]

Hey Ant,

No. 2 looks like the more likely. Have you been able to identify what is behind the fence? It looks like something is ocupying the space where you have drawn the short wall which runs parallel, and off the corner of the face of the house.

I guess the obvious notion of doing a site visit is out of the question.

[Allan Rahbek]

I also believe in number 2. But the sun is not that far yet,

It seems that the photographer is standing on a hill, because his eye level and the horizon is at a hight of 2/3 up in the window frames.

The fence is going downhill at least at the first 4-5 meters from the corner.

Allan

[Ant Carlos]

Yeah, guys, I am going with the #2. Painting already in progress.

Mike, the client's family don't owe that farm anymore. She told me even the house might not be there, because the old photo was taken as one of the last visual archives. It looks like to be from late 70's or, at latest, from early 80's.
I think there is another fence behind the fence (where your white arrow points), made of wooden boards. When the gate is open, it rests there.

Allan, you are right about the photographer being on a hill when he took the picture. The perspective line of the top of the window frames are at the same level of the vanishing point. The terrain looks very irregular indeed.

You guys helped a lot, thanks. It's interesting how we can see different things in the same photo. I am sure all our thoughts together gave it the better solution.

Cheers,

Ant

[Mike McCarty]

They have the right man for the job.

Good luck.

[Ant Carlos]

Thanks for the encouragement, Mike. You are always so kind.

Yesterday the client visited my studio to see the work in progress. She brought her sister, who tried to help remember some small things like "a tree over here", "a vine over there". By the way, the last time they saw the house, it had a large garage constructed where in the photo there is the fence and the gate. The old look is really gone. This photo is the only reference left.

Well, the good thing is that they like what I did so far, and the work is under control
Curiously, I am a portrait artist and rarely paint landscapes. But I wouldn't classify this as a landscape either. The client loved that old house so much, she looks so proud when she says her own father built it with his men, using natural resources, that I see this project as the "portrait of a house".

Ant

[Ant Carlos]

By the way, this is the painting finished. The portrait of an old house. Frankly, I prefer painting people.

Ant

[Mike McCarty]

They have the right man for the job.

I was right. Beautiful painting Ant.

It's good to remind ourselves of our roots. From time to time over the many years since I've left I've driven by the house that I grew up in in San Antonio, Texas. I keep a photo of it so that I can remind myself from time to time.

I think I can imagine how your clients feel about this image.

Again, great job.