Spring is a beautiful season no doubt, even though you might say we don't officially have actual seasons here in San Diego county, I still have appreciation for rain, fresh growth in the garden and of course, calving season!

What's cuter than a calf?  Ok, aside from the obvious like my own kids, but in general they are just charming to me.  This Hereford calf is no exception sitting in the colors of spring.

8x10 Hereford Calf in Spring study

Springtime also means the Cattlemen's Western Art Show, which I have been showing at since 2008 (or 9, can't remember). 

This year the show is April 6-8 in Paso Roble, Ca at the Event Center, and I will have a new batch of original work, including this one if it's still available.  For all information about the show, who is showing and important dates, click here.

So, my thought was to do a painting for the National Cattlemen's Beef Association that would be cows that could be interpreted as in a variety of locations, thinking this would appeal to more people.  But, the folks at NCBA thought differently, and they wanted a painting of cows in an Arizona landscape, since the convention was being held in Phoenix.

So, the original study was Arizona, but a generic, could be somewhere else scene, when I was told, "we were hoping for some cactus".   

Study for NCBA Commemorative print 2018 version 1

One of the beautiful things about painting in oil, modifications are not difficult, so round two, with cactus:

Study for NCBA Commemorative print 2018 version 2, with cactus

This one was happily approved.  The final piece did not have the identical configuration of cactus, but it had the same type and was well received.  

22x28 NCBA Commemorative Print 2018 by Denise Rich

I thank the National Cattlemen's Beef Association for inviting me to be the Commemorative Print artist this year, it was my pleasure!