The Eyes Have It

I have been working on a series of farm animal paintings from photos I took of cows and sheep in the Tomales area, also from chickens in my own backyard. When I paint an animal at a distance it ends up feeling more like a landscape to me.  

Odessa

 But when I zoom in close and get the feel of the animal through it's expression, I feel like I have captured something exciting!  I especially love to capture the eyes looking straight at me because as I am watching this amazing animal, he is checking me out.



Charlie



Annie



 He is trying to figure out if I am a threat or not.  The little ones run close to their mother but the older animals usually stand their ground, stop eating, check out the situation, then resume whatever they were doing before I came along.

If I am patient, I usually get some good shots.  In the last month, I have sold three of the "cropped close" paintings and I think it's because of the wonderful energy these little paintings exude. 

"I would like to paint the way a bird sings."   - Claude Monet