The Chairwoman of the Death Valley Art Show decided there would be more friendship and bonding among the artists if we exchanged small gifts at the annual artist's dinner. To this purpose, I painted a miniature, 4 X 6, of this lovely, vocal cow. Actually, I painted two alike, one to give and one to sell. To my surprise, I sold them both at Goffs a month before the Death Valley show, and had to paint two more in a hurry. This is the only subject I've painted four times.

I paint portraits of ranchers, I also paint portraits of their cattle. Both have remarkable faces, full of character. The Blairs know all their cattle as individuals, and recognize their faces in my paintings.

My friend George came to photography in mid life, prompted by the gift of a camera, something he'd never owned. His great talent for visual composition and uncanny rapport with wildlife have won for him in photo competitions ever since. He met this ram up a canyon in Anza Borrego; the whole band of sheep came down around him, some within arm's reach. When I saw his photographs, I asked if might paint from them. He told me to choose the one I liked best, and gave it to me.