Update of Vermeer's 'The Milkmaid', by Tod C Steele

© 2013 Tod C Steele  'Milkmaids'  16x16"  Acrylic - iPaintAnimals.com

 

This was the most challenging painting I've ever done - and one of the most rewarding. I'm a little strange in that often I look at something and ask myself, 'would a cow somehow improve this situation?' Whenever I saw Vermeer's 'The Milkmaid', with that empty window and somewhat depressing room, I just knew a cow would brighten things up and make things much more cheerful for the hardworking young lady!

It's hard to be unhappy when a cow's in the room, that is unless you are the one who must clean up after it. But we're not worried about that here because the cow's hindquarters are exactly where they should be...outside.

The biggest challenge, by far, was the girl's face. It went through about 5 renditions, starting with Quasi Moto, then to Carol Channing, back to BoBo Moto (Quasi's better looking brother) and then finally as shown above. It was as good as I could possibly get it, and I said, '...enough, Tod!... don't you dare touch it lest another Moto makes an apprearance!
Tod's Etsy

'The Next Big Thing' original painting by Tod C Steele

"The Next Big Thing" by Tod C Steele   12x16"  Acrylic

 

Just finished this and I like it....why?  Because there's a powerful message here.  Something very important, perhaps even earth shattering.  I just have absolutely no idea what the message is.  Please let me know if you know.  To me I just liked the idea of a farmer and a giant cow.  That's actually me as the farmer.  You can tell by the saggy bottom, short legs and bugged eyes (you have to take my word on that one), and, of course, the trademark bucket I often carry around with me.  But enough about me.  This is all about 'the cow'...the simple, trustworthy, faithful cow.  Our friend we always take for granted.  The cow we treat as mundane, even silly.  I call her, 'the next big thing' in this painting, but the truth is, she's always been a big thing.....a very big thing indeed, and we love her for it.

 

Updating Winslow Homer's 'The Gulf Stream' - by Tod C Steele

 

"The Search for Greener Pastures Hits a Glitch"

© Tod C Steele  24x18"  Acrylic

 

'The Gulf Stream"  by Winslow Homer

 

There was a 19th century painter named, Homer Winslow....or maybe it was Winslow Homer. I can't ever get that straight.  But whatever his name was, could that fellow ever paint! However, there was one painting he did named, 'The Gulf Stream', which I felt needed to be addressed. You see, in his version there is a black man laying on the deck of a wrecked boat, and it bothers me that the painting could be interpreted as being a touch racist. How? There are some who might argue that Homer is portraying the black man as a lousy sailor. But being that the Navy is loaded with black men (and women) who are obviously top-notch sailors, I decided to update the painting with a cow. I just don't think there's a person alive who would argue the cow as a good sailor (except perhaps in certain rare circus acts). So I am delighted to introduce this far more politically correct version which I have named, "The Search for Greener Pastures Hits a Glitch".