Artist Specializes In Tractor Portraits

Artist Specializes In Tractor Portraits FARM HOME Novelty Items 28-5-44 For confirmed tractor nuts, professional artist Charles Freitag of Marion, Iowa, specializes in original oil paintings of favorite tractors. Tractor enthusiasts are quick to tell you that every tractor has its own "personality", making them all unique. They often bring joy to their owners and a flood of special memories. Zealots just enjoy looking at them, so it's no surprise that Freitag's work is in high demand. Known across the nation for his prints of nostalgic farms scenes featuring tractors, Freitag specializes mainly in JD and Farmall models, but has done many other makes, as well as other portrait types. "I grew up on the farm and really enjoy this subject matter," he says. It's a first-come, first-served arrangement when hiring him, and whenever possible, Freitag likes to spend several hours with his client to get a feel for the subject to be captured on canvas. He takes many reference photos of the tractor to assist him in detail work back at his studio. Since an on-site meeting isn't always possible, he will also accept high-quality photos of the subject through the mail. Freitag's commissioned art prices range from $350 for a simple, single-tractor painting (16 by 20-in.) to $10,000 for some of the large, complex pieces he has done which take up to 250 hrs. to complete. Prints are available through Apple Creek Publishing. To discuss commission work, contact Freitag directly. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Charles Freitag, 3405 Monarch Ave., Marion, Iowa 52302 (ph 319 269-1766; email: chuckpam@staroute.com or Apple Creek Publishing (ph 800 662-1707; website: www.applecreekpub.com).

To read the rest of this story, download this issue below or click here to register with your account number.