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This painting was inspired by a plein air painting I did during a trip to the Lot and the Dordogne in southwestern France. I stayed with other painters in the village of Frayssinet in an old converted convent (literally called Le Vieux Couvent, or the ‘old convent”.) We toured around and painted daily, around the convent and on outings to nearby villages in the region. It was really a dream come true. On this particular morning, a soft fog rolled through the valley and a group of painters discovered this large flock of sheep quietly resting and munching on fresh grass just down the road from the old convent. The sheep backed by the soft hillsides a large lovely tree, was a scene begging to be painted. I did a quick oil sketch on site but it was incomplete. Rather than try and finish that painting I have held onto it and opted to re-imagine the scene on a new canvas, allowing me the joy of reliving that magical experience, even after years have passed.