“Steering” is a watercolour painting I did of a solitary steer on a Saskatchewan landscape, gazing hopefully up at a red balloon in the sky. I have a deep love of whimsy and I am very fond of wordplay. In this piece I explore the word “steer” and its two meanings: the livestock raised for human consumption, and the act of choosing which direction to go in. This painting has layered themes of fear, hope, and freedom, and also climate change and our collective future. The menacing storm clouds on the left, and the blue sky on the right, with a fence neatly dividing the landscape into danger and safety. The fence keeps the steer in, of course, but I’ve created an opening right in front of him; if he wants to come through, he can. The steer is a sentient being and likely has no wish to end up on someone’s plate. Even so, he hesitates; the way is clear, but change is hard. One can interpret this work to have meaning in terms of hope for the future. Or one can dig deeper into it as a metaphor for the link between animal agriculture, environmental degradation and climate instability. The whimsy in this piece is carried by the expressive treatment, pigments given permission to run and spread, mixing with one another, within the boundaries that I set. It’s controlled chaos, warm and cool colours give the painting a sense of movement. This is a pure watercolour painting: all whites are the whites of the paper, no white paint was used. I had done a small concept sketch in my sketchbook while sick with Covid earlier this year. My friend Elan Morgan offered to allow me to use their impressive photo of a stormy rural Saskatchewan landscape as reference for a painting and everything fell into place. This artwork is for someone who loves and appreciates thought-provoking imagery with an inspirational mood. Ideal artwork for any living or working space.

Watercolour, 10.25 x 14.125” (26 x 36 cm), framed size is 19 x 15”, painted with professional light-fast pigments on 100% cotton paper. The painting is signed by me, JC Little, on the front and has the title and date on the back. I will include a certificate of authenticity with this painting. It will be packaged with stiff cardboard backing on both sides, and bubble wrap to protect it, inside a box. To avoid waste, where ever possible I will re-use mailers and other packaging materials. It’s framed it behind glass, with an acid-free double matte. To preserve the painting from deterioration, display away from direct sunlight.

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Actual colours may vary from those shown here depending on the device you are using to view the painting. All copyright, reproduction/duplication rights, and artist’s resale rights are reserved by the artist JC Little. This painting will be sold with the condition that the artist may show the painting in an art gallery or other art show setting.

Prefer a signed print? Reach out to me HERE.