Valoy Eaton (American, born 1938)
Along the Fenceline, Midway, Utah, 1976
Oil on masonite
12 × 23 1/2 in
Frame: 20 1/2 × 28 1/2 in
Signed lower right: “Valoy Eaton”; titled and dated on verso
Painted in 1976, Along the Fenceline, Midway, Utah exemplifies Valoy Eaton’s enduring engagement with the rural landscapes of northern Utah. The composition stretches horizontally, emphasizing the gentle rise and fall of open fields bordered by a weathered fence that guides the viewer’s eye deep into the scene. Eaton’s handling of light captures the quiet warmth of late autumn or early spring, with patches of lingering snow contrasting against ochres, russets, and muted greens.
A modest farmhouse and leafless trees sit beyond the fence line, anchoring the painting in a lived-in agricultural setting rather than an idealized pastoral vision. Eaton’s brushwork balances structure and spontaneity, with confident strokes defining terrain while softer passages suggest atmosphere and distance. The result is a scene that feels both specific to Midway, Utah, and emblematic of the broader Intermountain West.
