"Protecting the Herd" is a 9"x12" soft pastel done on an Ampersand Pastelbord. The scene is from near Cummings GA and is on property that belonged to one my husband's relatives. We visited and walked around the old farm he always visited as a child. I loved the little dog barely showing and he was barking to protect the cows from me when I was photographing the scene! Several years ago, I painted the little dog looking into an old chicken house where a peacock was making noise.There are cows at the top of the hill and I have only just barely indicated shapes that could be them if you look. I also did an under-painting that included some purple-violet colors under the trees and I have enjoyed letting a lot of it show thru. It reminds me of wisteria that grows up into all the trees in our areas of North Georgia and is a beautiful site when it is in bloom with the purple hanging flowers!
Trying to find something a little different to paint when giving a lesson to a private student, this photo was in the mix. I needed to talk about how to create interest in the pastures he was painting. This was a perfect example, and it turned into something I thought was worthy of framing. It was fun to revisit the feelings and memories from this visit to an old home place of relatives!
