Who Stole the Sheep?

Here’s a painting I finished recently…more or less.  I actually like the painting even though it’s definitely missing something.  Something like…sheep.

“Pastoral” by Judith Kraus – Oil on Canvas Panel 11 x 14

Originally I’d planned to place a large bush or a tree in the lower left hand corner, but as I looked at the painting, I begin hearing “Sheep May Safely Graze” by J. S. Bach playing in my head. It’s one of my favorites.  I liked the quiet, gentle feel of this painting.

Oh, but I wanted sheep. I think I could paint sheep. White, fluffy sheep. Painting them might be much like painting clouds only with heads and legs and tails, right? In my mind, I can see a flock of sheep down there in that corner. I just didn’t trust myself to try painting them.

I considered cutting out a few “trial” sheep just to get an idea of the right size. That’s a technique I learned when I was painting watercolor scenes and adding people and animals. I might do that.

For now, I’m leaving “Pastoral” alone. Either the sheep have wandered off or they’ve been abducted. Someday I hope I can go back, find my missing sheep, and put them in my painting where they belong so that they may safely graze these green, grassy hillsides.