This original painting by Alberta artist Steve R. Mitts shows three young lads raking hay beneath an open sky when one, seeking a brief escape from the rhythm of labor, climbs a ladder and begins to play his lute. His music drifts lightly over the field, transforming an ordinary workday into a shared moment of delight. The melody offers a welcome reprieve from their tasks, softening the weight of routine and binding the boys together in a simple, joyful pause.

Mitts combines contemporary structure with 16th Century Renaissance influences. Using a meticulous layering of acrylic washes and gels, he achieves a textured, stained glass finish. This piece is created on 100-year-old reclaimed grain bin wood, making the material as much a part of the story as the painting itself. Subtle vignettes, paintings within a painting, breathe quietly together in gentle harmony. Measures 9 3/4 x 9 3/4 x 1 1/8 inches deep.