Spending time with animals is a rewarding habit to cultivate. Farm animals in particular remind us of our humanness. In Howard County, Maryland Clark’s Elioak Farm has, among its collection, a petting area for children and adults. I met a rooster named Jackson one summer and we became fond of each other. I’ve painted him many, many times as there’s nothing like a vain rooster for a model.

The bulls in France, which is where I saw the ones here, are unfriendly. Always keep your distance because they will seriously charge at you. It’s true. I do have some cock and bull stories to tell.