Cow On A Plow
The inspiration behind this painting was during the Christmas Holiday and centered around the Elf On A Shelf – the Christmas tradition of how Elves’ hide in people’s homes and report back who is naughty or nice.
The rhyming nature of “Elf On A Shelf” somehow took me to “Cow On A Plow” and a painting concept was born. The painting name almost stayed “Elf On A Shelf” as there was immense joy in seeing people’s faces when they made the connection of seeing the image and the rhyming “Cow On A Plow”.
The painting is centered by a cow sitting on a plow manufactured by the imaginary Bird-In-Hand Plow Company. Legend credits the Village of Bird-in-Hand’s name to two men surveying the Colonial highway between the port of Philadelphia and Lancaster. At dusk in 1734, they found themselves at an inn by a Conestoga wagon stop. “A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush,” suggested one surveyor, so they agreed to stay there for the night.
The painting was challenging as I had to imagine what a cow looks like sitting on a piece of farm equipment. Then to further twist the whimsical and unusual topic and adding to the story, I needed to answer how does the plow move.
Paintings such as these are our own fantasy story and can be whatever we want. So, what if in this fantasy world cows have dominion over humans. What might that look like? Then sprinkle a little over the top of a colorful umbrella and hat because the cow wants sun protection. If you are going in full crazy whimsical, might as well be neck deep.