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"I'll Have a Chardon-hay"
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After painting a purple cow and then a blue cow, I ran across a photograph of this gorgeous blonde cow with the most interesting crooked horns. I love the beauty of the unsymmetrical twists and sizes. I was also drawn to the color. It was a yummy caramel mixed in with a good dose of a color which reminded me of chardonnay--a nice, generous pour on a sunny day is always welcome.
When I started this piece, my daughter asked me why I keep painting cows. I'm wasn't sure other than the fact that I sold the blue cow and the purple cow is hanging in my kitchen. (My husband won't let me sell the purple cow!) A few days later, I was writing my artist biography. I am trying to find a sells rep for my giclee prints, so I am working on a packet of information. Any way, I found myself, as many people do, starting with my roots. Here is what I wrote:
"Tracie is a Texas artist who lives in Rhode
Island. She is a Seventh Generation Texan! She primarily grew up in Lubbock, TX, located
in the Texas panhandle. Springtime was abundant with sand storms with
skies hued by the native red dirt. And, yes, there were tumbleweeds in
the streets--at least my street, because we lived near a large open field.
Oil pump jacks lined the highways.
One of her major sensory memories of Lubbock is the stockyard aroma on
hot days when the winds of the plains would swoosh it into the city. Not
the most pleasant smell, but definitely a memorable one!"
I guess that rich aroma of those West Texas stockyards had more impact on me than I realized. The cow represents home to me. Skies that glide along forever. Dust devils dancing in the fields. Soul shaking thunderstorms with lightening to rival any fireworks display. Cicadas' songs on a summer night. Red clay dusting my boots. (Yes, I even wore boots. Pink ones, in fact.)
I know it is an overused cliche, but it rings true for my cows: "You can take the girl out of Texas, but you can't take Texas out of the girl." Which is probably why my daughter calls me a "Yee-haw Momma."
If you are a dog lover, you know what it is like to have one of these sweet creatures as a member of your family. I've grown up with dogs and can remember each and every one of their names, faces and loving licks by heart. There is a quote by Anatole France that hits home every time I see a tale wag: "Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened." 
