Painting Farm Characters
Some people are bird watchers, but I watch farm animals.
Sheep… Why do I paint Sheep? Here’s the truth, underlying my love of farm animals. I love rising at dawn, love animals, outdoor country, and physical work (well, most of the time). So in my mind, I sometimes imagine an alternative life on a farm or wonder if, in a past life (though I’m not sure of past lives) -was I a farmer? Maybe it’s my childhood, based on visiting farms near my grandparents, or the petting zoo, or reading James Herriot books. He made me want to be a vet (or writer). Farm animals fascinate me because they aren’t wild, and they aren’t pets. I love watching them move in groups-cows, chickens, goats, and sheep. I love listening to them communicate and love to observe their interactions and “pecking order.” Some people are bird watchers, I’m a sheep watcher.
Why I’m Painting Sheep?
After getting such positive feedback on sheep characters I painted and showed on Instagram and at a local venue, I decided to explore and create more studies of sheep. I did not just tackle one scene repeatedly, but I also made a variety of characters. I’ve painted various facial expressions and shadowy wool on them, and I’ve put these goofy flocks in a variety of settings. Some are staring straight at us, some are gathered seemingly lost from their group, and some are refusing to go home from the meadows, mountains, or yards where they graze. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, I love painting the same subject several times.
5 Reasons I like painting the same subject several times
Repetition builds skill: When working and reworking paintings, our minds open to solving problems and our muscles remember how to make the brushstrokes. Then, next time through, another problem is solved, and the muscles are stronger.
Repetition builds confidence: Each time we choose what we like. “I like the colors, I like the way I added something in, or the minimal look of it. I like the eyes or the smile,” etc, we do it again and amplify what we like. Remove what we don’t like, and our confidence builds.
Repetition is an opportunity to experiment with fixing mistakes: Skill builds from trying, experimenting, fixing, not just from watching others work. It helps to have teachers, masters, videos, and classes, but at some point, you have to paint and create and flub up and adjust and fix until you’re satisfied. Then evaluate how not to fall in the same hole next time. Of course, this means there will be other holes to deal with. Don’t avoid them. Fall in, climb out, and paint again.
Repetition invites deeper thinking: While painting something over and over…Let’s say grass or sky, part of your mind focuses on the value, color, brushstrokes of the sky while another part of my mind may contemplate weather patterns, fear of thunderstorms, and climate change. Try it. You can watch (and learn from) your varying thoughts and emotions as you work on something that is not overly challenging because it’s familiar.
Repetition is full of discovery: Even if it’s the same subject or the same picture, essentially, each painting and each period of painting is different. You discover new things about your materials, tools, the way the light hits the subject, and your own mind and emotions. Being present to paint, is a practice of being present and there’s so much available to discover in the present moment.
See my collections of sheep or flower paintings in my portfolio
and contact me if you are interested in purchasing one.
