“Swagger”

Sometimes I have ideas and then make silly rules that limit my ideas. The Highland Cow isn't necessarily "Colorado" or "wild life", but at this point in my collection I was looking to challenge myself. These beautiful creatures have such luxurious hair and expressions that peaked my interest. Could I capture the essence of this breed? Is it okay that this subject is a tangent from "wild life"? I sat with these questions and the eagerness to paint him was still strong. I took that as a yes! I couldn't find a reference photo that fit what was in my minds eye, so I created my own. I collaged several different highland cows together to get the hair, horns and eye that matched my vision. I also threw caution to the wind and utilized white guoache. So happy with the final outcome. Sometimes what comes out in the end is better than what I saw in my head.  —  Shayna, June 2022