animals | my90acres

Living out in the near wilderness, we are often beset with furry critters set on eating our produce. Our 90 acres is more like a big park than a real farm. We don’t mind sharing but…there’s plenty for the animals to eat without invading the garden and orchards.

Recently we noticed that something was munching on the fallen apples. So we set up the deer cam in the orchard. My goodness, but there is a LOT of activity out there. Plenty of deer, lots of raccoons (and babies), and one slinky coyote. This isn’t counting all the rabbits and squirrels that set off the camera.

And for those of you who think raccoons are cute little masked bandits, think again. They are vicious creatures who just enjoy the pleasure of killing a whole flock of chickens in a single night.

Anyway, we’re really trying to capture a photo of a bobcat or mountain lion rumored to be living in these parts. We’ll move the deer cam into the woods soon and see what we will see.

Day visitors – a whole herd of deer munching on peaches 8:45 a.m.

Big buck 10:15 p.m.

Raccoon stealing bait from trap 5:08 a.m.

Wylie Coyote 1:43 p.m.

Evening muncher 6:45 p.m.

A simple spring subject. Oil on canvas, 11x14

A simple spring subject. Oil on canvas, 11×14

I’ve often been asked how I decide what to paint. To me, the answer is obvious. Just as writers are advised to “paint what you know,” so, too, should painters. What interests you? Do you have a passion or special message? For me, just walking out the door will often suggest a subject. In fact, I once had an exhibit which was solely painted from “my 90 acres,” i.e., everything and everyone was from the home place. That was a little challenging as I do get out and about, but it was a good exhibit.

This painting that I completed yesterday is a scene just out my studio door. The dog and some spring bushes. Pretty simple. However, if you look back at some of the famous painters of the past century, regional artists or French Impressionists, some of their best work was of ordinary daily scenes. I don’t live near the ocean or the Rocky Mountains, so my usual subjects are the soft hills here in southern Indiana, small villages, flower gardens, vegetables, my favorite people and places. Try taking a look around your own home town with new eyes. You’ll be surprised at subjects which suggest themselves. Good luck!