Kidron artist Dennis Lipp to present ‘Views from the Farm’ exhibit Oct. 25–26

People come from miles around to drive by and take pictures with the famous Kidron Road sunflower field. Local artist and painter Dennis Lipp lived on that farm for over 20 years. He will host an art show, "Views from the Farm," Oct. 25-26 at The Club House, 106 Heritage Green Lane, Kidron, to showcase some of his work.

“In the spring of this year, the idea came to me to have a show based on the memories of the beautiful scenes I encountered while living on the farm," he said. "I went through many reference photographs I had taken and chose to paint approximately 30 pieces. That's a lot of paintings I had to complete in six months, even though some are smaller and a few I had started and finished earlier."

Lipp's range of work includes landscapes, wildlife, editorial and Christian inspirational art for his company, Peace Like a River-Fine Art.

Lipp and his wife Lisa moved to the area about 25 years ago from New Jersey, and they rented the small house on the farm from Ella Yoder.

“Stress and congestion on the roads were just a couple of the drawbacks, as well as living close to your neighbors — good if you got along, not so good if you didn't," Lipp said. "Coming to live on a 75-acre farm felt like a spacious paradise. The trees, land and gardens were all so beautiful. We loved walking the dog Roxie — not our own but Ella's — on the property. Lisa dreamed about living on a farm since she was a little girl."

The Lipps moved off the farm in 2021 after their landlord passed away and the farm was auctioned off.

“The transition to condo living was difficult as I had two hips replaced within the last four months before we moved, and then I came down with a bad bout of COVID in 2022, with double pneumonia, where I had to be on oxygen for a year," Lipp said. "It was also difficult because of no longer being on the farm we loved with Ella, our friend."

Lipp said when he lived on the farm, he painted in the basement. He did a sunflower painting, but they were from Yoder's garden.

“Painting itself is relaxing and therapeutic. Moving from the blocking in of the color phase to the more detailed phase can be challenging and knowing when to say it is finished," Lipp said. "I also have to fight against being lazy."

The artwork will all be for sale. The suggested donation prices range from $12 for a small print to $24 for a large print. The original paintings range from approximately $55 to over $600.

Lipp's recent awards include the Best of Show, People's Choice Award, 2022 Wayne Center for the Arts for "Revelation: Fury and Majesty,” a piece that took him 16 years to complete. He also was awarded second place for "Return of the Prodigal Son" in 2019 and honorable mention in the 2022 International Juried Art Competition for "Cautious Descent."

Some of his favorites for this show are "Summer Morning Deer Crossing," "Irises," "Blossom as the Rose" and "Sunflowers."