Smith Farm Windmill is a breathtaking studio acrylic painting that immortalizes a beloved childhood landmark along Highway 341 (now the Golden Isle Parkway) between Lumber City and McRae in South Georgia. This 18″ × 24″ work captures an unforgettable sunset moment when the sun dropped dramatically on the horizon, bathing the scene in intense, surrealistic oranges and reds that made the large old oak tree glow and reflected upward to illuminate the undersides of distant trees. The windmill stands tall and off-set to the right, silhouetted against the vivid complementary blue sky, with the composition designed for maximum drama—precise positioning of the sun relative to the oak and water tower, crisp foreground details softening into atmospheric depth.
For Don Yaun, born and raised in nearby Hazlehurst, this windmill was a cherished family road-trip landmark from the 1950s and 1960s—always anticipated during drives to Eastman. Years later, traveling the same road with his wife toward Buford, they arrived at the perfect golden hour. What began as a quick photo opportunity became a vision beyond imagination, with the sun’s colors creating an almost otherworldly intensity.
Tragically, in September 2024, Hurricane Helene devastated much of South Georgia, and the historic Smith Farm windmill did not survive the storm’s destructive winds. The structure, once a quiet icon powering water for the farm, is no longer standing. This makes the painting even more significant as a historical record and tribute—for all who travel this scenic route, it preserves a piece of rural Georgia that nature has reclaimed.