I've painted this same scene in winter, and filed away in my mind that I wanted to try to capture this view in spring. Given that is is quite a drive from where I live, I hesitated to make the trip worrying it would waste half a day with nothing to show for the effort. I could not have anticipated what I found, which was a perfect day where most, but not all, the trees had leafed out, the dandelions were in bloom and low and behold there were cows perfectly situated for the composition I was looking for.

For many years I avoided panting cows after a bad experience trying to capture them in paint. I have since overcome that fear and find them enjoyable.

To me this painting captures quintessential Vermont, with its hilly terrain, open fields, cows and a perfect little church steeple in the distance.