Varla Bishop Acrylic, Business Side of Painting, Farm Animals, Landscape, Wildlife

Why Sheep?

I paint a lot of sheep. There is a reason. There is a story. Isn’t there always a story?

I’m not sure I can make this story brief. Seems like it loses some of its sparkle if I try. I really don’t want to tell you a dull and boring story. Since this story is about sheep I’m already at risk of putting you to sleep. So I’ll try my best not to make this a bedtime tale but a kinda, sorta of an adventure.

It starts at my grandma’s house. She had a huge two story, five bedroom farmhouse. It was once my grandfather’s childhood home. He was the baby of the family and the last to get married. He had inherited the house. He was an apple farmer with acres and acres of apple trees. He grew up in Hales Corners, Wisconsin which is anything but rural now. But back then there was land to buy and opportunities to be had. His parents came here from Czechoslovakia. I don’t know why and I never asked him questions. Typical kid. I so loved that house.

There were outbuildings that had bushels of apples ready to be sold. My grandma made some amazing apple desserts that I totally lost my mind over. She could do anything with apples including the cores. Remember red pickled apples? Yum.

As a kid I loved playing on the staircase in that house. Probably because I thought stairs were cool. I was a kid that grew up in a mobile home so anything that wasn’t in my home was pretty neat. The staircase was not straight but turned halfway up. It had a big landing. It was there I played with my dolls and studied my environment. On the wall was a big picture of sheep. I counted and recounted the number of sheep in that painting never coming up with the same number twice. I spent many hours of my childhood on the floor beneath that painting.

I even challenged my cousins in how many sheep there were. The struggle was real. The count always seemed allusive to all of us. But still it was my favorite painting. One day grandma said she had something important to ask me. She was working on her will and wanted to know what I would like. I instantly said – the sheep picture!!!! Grandma said “you don’t want that”, but I did. “No you don’t. You need to think about this.” I never changed my mind.

My grandma always hoped I would be an art teacher one day. I had other dreams. Grandma said I would change my mind many times before I grew up. I never changed my mind with that either. I would one day become a Wisconsin State Trooper. Grandma lived to see me get my badge. ❤️

When my grandmother passed away it was at my house. It was Christmas Eve. It was one of the saddest times in my life. I never went back to her house. I didn’t know if grandma had left me that sheep painting, but she had. I did get heirlooms from my grandparents thanks to my mom. But the picture was more then just a picture to me.

The sheep painting traveled a great distance to end up with me. It hung on that wall at their house in the same spot my entire life. It reminds me of my childhood. It reminds me of my grandparents and all that they taught me. I miss them. So Varla’s Blue “SHEEP” art represents a part of my past. One of my loves. To remember them I paint sheep. I paint a lot of sheep. Now why is my business called Varla’s “Blue” sheep art! That’s another story.

Title unknown. Hard to read the artist signature. C. Van Lelv…….?
Varla Bishop Acrylic, portrait, Wildlife

Winter’s Beauty

I think one of the prettiest birds that really pop against the white snow is the cardinal. I am often commissioned to paint the cardinal the most. I love the many shades of red and orange that goes into their feathers. It is not just solid red but many vibrant shades blended together.

This painting is at the request of a friend who wanted the bird painted against a green background instead of the typical snowy white. I like this choice. With so much snow surrounding me when I go outside this brings me a little bit of early spring.

Spring will be here before you know it. I hope when this year draws to an end that everyone who wants a vaccine has gotten a vaccine. I hope that we are once again able to come together.

It has been a challenging year where I’ve learned about Zoom, what restaurants delivers and the value of a phone call instead of a text.

Think spring but remember the beauty still visible in all the snow that surrounds us these days.

Varla Bishop Acrylic, Wildlife

Life Lesson

My 11 year old granddaughter sent me a picture she had taken of a zebra. She wanted to know what I thought of the photo. Like any good grandma I used encouraging words about her photographic abilities. I then said I would love to one day paint it. She quickly responded that she hoped I would say that and yes I could paint from her photo. She had one requirement. “Grandma, I want credit for the photo.”

Hum, now where did she learn about that? I assured her I would and proceeded to paint her zebra. I have asked her if she liked the final product. She whole heartedly said yes she loved it.

Now she hasn’t asked me if she can have the painting. But I’ve been thinking. If she does should I give her a life lesson that includes a payment plan??

“All Black and White” acrylic on canvas 18”x24”

Reference photo. Original photo taken by “Leena Merchant”.