Texas Longhorn
The roots of the Texas Longhorn go back to the late 1400s. https://www.historynet.com/texas-longhorns-a-short-history.htm
It is said that they are a "hybrid breed resulting from a random mixing of Spanish retinto (criollo) stock and English cattle that Anglo-American frontiersmen brought to Texas from southern and midwestern states in the 1820s and 1830s". https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/longhorn-cattle
Growing up on the farm we had bulls, but nothing with horns like this! Seeing photographs of the longhorn steer made me want to sketch and paint one of these magnificent animals. I believe I need more practice but overall I am satisfied with the outcome. I created this painting on 9 x 12, 300 lb watercolor board, but I think it needs to be done on larger paper. I had difficulty getting the detail that I wanted on the body using the smaller watercolor paper.
The reference photo can be found here: https://www.deviantart.com/mschmidtproductions/art/Longhorn-4091042-1920-861164589
I love my movies of the western genre and Tom Hanks has a new one available, count me in!
The wild, wild west may not be so wild anymore but that's ok. What I have seen so far has me wanting to see more. I have never been to Texas, but it is on the list! Along with revisiting Colorado, throw in Montana, Wyoming, and...
Happy Trails!
Helen