Animals and their funny looks.

"Inmates", Acrylic on Panel, 8x10 inches

Jerry Lebo, 2005

I am going to give you a break from my "Junk Food" series, and instead am posting an older painting I did a couple of years back.

This painting is based on a photo I took in a field near my house where some cows are usually lurking about--and on this day I decided to stop and take a few pictures. It was winter, and I liked how these guys sort of stayed together in a group and looked up is a casual fashion while I snapped pictures. The contrast and reflected light was strong, and the look that cows have on their face fascinated me.

I think humans spend a lot of time wondering what their pets are thinking. If you have a dog, you will know what I mean. My wife and kids were out of town last week--so I spent a lot of time with the family dog. Animals can seem almost human sometimes, the way they look at you with their sad eyes. But, then again, they may not be thinking of anything--one never knows.

Anyway, I called this painting "Inmates" in honor of my friend Richard in New Mexico, who refers to his four horses as "the inmates". It is a sort of a term of endearment, reflecting the fact that we are taking care of animals, but it some way we are also their wardens. These guys seemed to look up an say, "Psst, help get us out of here." I've put a loose rendering of the fence in the back as a visual clue to their imprisonment--and focused on capturing the look that cows give you. Hope you like it.


Tomorrow, I hope to be able to post another from my on-going "Junk Food" series. "Snickers Bar" is almost complete.

All the best, sixtyminuteartist.