New Work for 2010!!

Well as usual there are always a number of Christmas comissions that have to be finished up in January. Im having a great time with the comissions. These include a dog, a pony and a very cute orange kitten and a simaese cat. I am working everyday now painting on something.

However, in the midst of this I also had the wonderful opportunity to visit Dixiemeadows Farm  in Rappahannock, Va.  This is a wonderful amazing place where love for animals just flows. I was invited with a photographer to come out and visit, take a pickup truck tour guided by the ower herself. For privacy reasons I am going to call her Mrs. D. 

What an amazing woman. She know so much about caring for animals that I couldnt help respect her. The way every animal on the farm is cared for and knows they are loved well it made me jelouse of course as an animal lover and a former horse farmer.

I can only say that this was an oasis of wonder for me.  Donkeys, Zebra, Zebu, Camels, Tarpan Horses, Dahul Sheep from Texas, Dexter and Scottish Hilander Cattle and a breed of Peruvian Camels I had never heard of before. I was able to take some amazing photos and just soak in  the amazing texture of the place.

I have to admit through  among the donkeys, brahama cows, pea fowel and waterbuffalo and all the other amazing critters... my three favorites were the cream colored Hilander Cow who ate cookies from my hand, the baby camel who Mrs D allowed me to feed, and  the Zonkie.  Yes, I did say Zonkie!

The Zonkie is a cross between a Donkey and a Zebra. You can read more about it on Wikipedia. He is about the size of a medium pony and looks for all the world like a horse, except for his big ears and striped legs. Here is my very first watercolor of the Dixiemeadows' Animals. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did meeting Mrs. D and spending the wonderful morning with her.
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If you would like to own a print of the Zonkie. Watch this space for more details or email me at  contact@llmartin.com