We like Irina Rumyantseva Cow Siblings series, “a unique style of cow art with a modern approach using acrylic and spray paint”, as described by the artist herself. The techniques involved in painting animals might have changed over the years, but artists and buyers alike have been enjoying creating and admiring farmyard animal paintings for decades.
Painting rural scenes and animal portraits became popular in the mid-nineteenth century when the rise of the middle class brought along a demand for art that illustrated people’s lives. Names like Alvan Fisher and Rosa Bonheur dominated the art scene in America and France, their artworks being admired for their accuracy and artistic skill.
As for Great Britain, Cecil Aldin is renowned for his paintings and sketches of rural life and animals. Later in life he specialised in equestrian portraits, his illustrations appearing in numerous books and magazines.
Today, while our lifestyle might be different, we still enjoy looking at farmyard animal portraiture and artworks that depict idyllic rural life. Such paintings evoke a feeling of nostalgia and happiness, a comforting experience for the viewer.
“ I love painting the places I am happiest to spend time in – and this can include as varied places as the Scottish landscape to my home environment of the Hampshire countryside”, says Vanessa Wells.
