a bunch of bull

I just finished these two paintings as a commission for Sonoma Cattle Exchange, a beef wholesaler and retailer based in Petaluma, CA. The client wanted a large 4 x 6 ft. single Black Angus bull to hang in his conference room, and a smaller 30 x 40 in. farm scene featuring several Black Angus bulls to hang in the company's entrance way. He wanted both to reflect a classic, early American feel.

The large single bull was the first one I completed. It got many positive responses and "bull" jokes were abundant around the studio. I looked through many Black Angus photos to combine the right characteristics. This massive animal is after all the source of the beef industry, and I wanted to elevate it from being just a picture of a bull, to an icon full of strength, dignity, and stormy majesty.