"De Groote Ossendrift (The Great Oxen Drive)" Painting

I have always loved the smallholder life, dreaming about the little house on the prairie as a child, and growing vegetables, and keeping chickens and sheep as an adult. My paintings are focusing more and more on farm animals, especially the old breeds, They have a long cultural connection to the human race, and are usually kept in an extensive and natural way - the way it should be. There is something about farmyard animals that makes me feel safe and stop worrying. I paint in oils, and sketch as much as possible from life. The best place for me to be is in a sunny field with a herd of cows trying to lick my hands. But animals move around, and this means that speed is important. I like the thrill of getting it right in one go, but visible signs of searching for the right shapes are part of the work, too. The brushstroke is essential and I try to achieve the freshness of my life sketches in the larger studio paintings as well.