Painted in May and June, 2025. 20”x16”. Acrylic on stretched canvas. Price $320.00 Cdn. Framed
One of the things I find fascinating about farm animals is the strong bonds they create with other animals and sometimes with people. Cows, in particular, will often pair up with another cow and spend the day grazing side by side. These friendships are well noted and long term, including babysitting each other’s calves.
I was back visiting my brother at the ranch and went for a walk up to the buffalo rock. On my way back down the hill, I caught the attention of two cows who took an interest in my progress through the high grass. As long as I didn’t walk towards them, they were happy to stay put. As it had been a particularly wet Spring that year, the grass was abundant and intensely green. I took some reference photos just before the cows decided to head off in another direction.
What caught my attention was the vibrant colours of the two Angus cows and how it played against the green pastures and the blue summer sky. I tried to capture the intensity of these colours in my painting, but may have over-shot the mark a bit in saturation. I was happy with the abstraction of the two cows. There was enough detail to provide a sense of personality of the two animals, while still maintaining an expressionist style.
This was a fun way for me to explore the concept of Friendship.
