"Shade Below Zaca Mountain"
20" X 30" Oil on Canvas
I took an early morning drive up Foxen Canyon to snap pics of cows and found these guys lounging in the shade as the day warmed. Cows are such noble creatures and I've wanted to paint them more than I have in the past. This field is used for growing alfalfa and it was cut and the cows left to graze on what was leftover. They had it wittled down to mere stubs. Gainey Ranch has cows and they grow their own alfalfa too and when prices are right I buy from them....fun to drive in on their place surrounded by hay fields.
Tree and cow details.....
I know, I know...repeating shapes but heck, that's how they posed for me and that doesn't bug me that much anyway doing it every now and then.
6 comments:
This is really good. The subject is a little different, too. It has a different feel. I love the lacey trees, the dappled shade, and of course, "the girls." It's very real.
Hi Dianne,
The difference I think are just the addition of these cows and the handling of the oaks. I've been wanting to paint some cows for a very long time but like most things you just have to one day say, "that's it, cows today, no more stalling!!" They were really fun to paint and I have enough ref photos to paint them more often. The trees are just a different way of handling oaks which was fun to try out....Thanks a lot for your comments on the painting Dianne, I appreciate it.
Into wildlife now? Handled with your usual skill. I love the way you have created light on the hills behind the tree. Lovely.
Hi Mick,
Thanks for the comments on the background. I was wondering if that was sort of lost back there but it's nice to know it wasn't. Just cows, something about them guys I like but have never really went in that direction. Going to add a few to upcoming work I hope. Thanks Mick.
I LOVE this one!! The sameness in the direction of the cows works for me! Love the very foreground, too, the trees, all of it. More cows please. Ooh, how about horses? :)
Thanks Christine for the nice comments. As soon as I get painting cows down I'll give horses a try. Drawing them is one thing...painting them might be easier...I hope, haha.
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