Commissioned pet portrait, watercolor

In case you thought I was only fond of chickens and maybe cows and goats, allow me to share that I am in general fascinated by the animal world and have for years painted people’s pets. It all started actually with goats, the fluffy angora variety that used to graze the Berkeley hills eating poison oak and blackberry brambles (to cut down on the fire hazard!) And then I moved on to painting dogs and cats, and then moved to the country and started painting horses and even llamas.

And now you can see a collection of my animals and even order your very own pet’s portrait on my new website www.FavoritePetPortraits.com

But I must also report that, happy though I am with most of my contacts with the animal world, I could use some advice regarding my chickens. You see, while I was gone on vacation Nimbus (the Silkie who looks like a puffy gray cloud) started brooding (sitting on the nest where all the chickens prefer to lay their eggs) Even after her egg had long been removed, and even though, goodness knows, we don’t have a rooster and so will not likely have eggs that hatch into chickies! even then she continued to perform her motherly duty. Unfortunately the other 6 hens had gotten into a really slick routine of taking turns laying their eggs in that very same nest. Well, I guess we’re all creatures of habit, so we can understand their upset at not having easy access. (It must feel something like waiting in line at a public restroom when you really have to go) So I put another box next to the first, but they’re still so upset and raise their voices to a pitch that sounds like they’re being chased by the axe man! What’s a farmer girl to do? And don’t tell me to get a rooster. THat definitely was too noisy.