“Steering” was selected for the Artist in Montreal’s (AIM) Summer Art Show 2024 at Galérie BOA in Old Montreal .

This is a signed art print of my original watercolour painting,of a solitary steer on a Saskatchewan landscape, gazing hopefully up at a red balloon in the sky. I have a deep love of whimsy and I am very fond of wordplay. In this piece I explore the word “steer” and its two meanings: the livestock raised for human consumption, and the act of choosing which direction to go in. This painting has layered themes of fear, hope, and freedom, and also climate change and our collective future. The menacing storm clouds on the left, and the blue sky on the right, with a fence neatly dividing the landscape into danger and safety. The fence keeps the steer in, of course, but I’ve created an opening right in front of him; if he wants to come through, he can. The steer is a sentient being and likely has no wish to end up on someone’s plate. Even so, he hesitates; the way is clear, but change is hard. One can interpret this work to have meaning in terms of hope for the future. Or one can dig deeper into it as a metaphor for the link between animal agriculture, environmental degradation and climate instability. The whimsy in this piece is carried by the expressive treatment, pigments given permission to run and spread, mixing with one another, within the boundaries that I set. It’s controlled chaos, warm and cool colours give the painting a sense of movement. This is a pure watercolour painting: all whites are the whites of the paper, no white paint was used. I had done a small concept sketch in my sketchbook while sick with Covid earlier this year. My friend Elan Morgan offered to allow me to use their impressive photo of a stormy rural Saskatchewan landscape as reference for a painting and everything fell into place. This artwork is for someone who loves and appreciates thought-provoking imagery with an inspirational mood. Ideal artwork for any living or working space. See the timelapse video below to watch me paint it.

Open edition ink jet print, 6 × 8” or 8.5 × 11” including a white border. The print is signed and titled by me, JC Little, on the front, and it is stamped with my embossed insignia. Printed with fade resistant Claria Photo HD Ink on Epson Watercolor Paper, Radiant White. I have calibrated the print to be as close to the original painting as possible. A Certificate of Authenticity and a Framing Guide is included with this print. It’s recommended to frame it behind UV filter glass, with an acid-free matte, and display away from direct sunlight to preserve the print from deterioration and fading. It will be packaged with an archival sleeve, and either packaged flat or carefully rolled into a cardboard shipping tube depending on the size. To avoid waste, where ever possible I will re-use mailers and other packaging materials.

SHIPPING via Canada Post with tracking. This item ships to Canada, the USA and most of the EU. If you are outside these territories, please reach out to me directly so I can quote you an accurate shipping rate.

Actual colours may vary from those shown here depending on the device you are using to view the painting.All copyright and reproduction/duplication rights are reserved by the artist JC Little. This painting will be sold with the condition that the artist may show the painting in an art gallery or other art show setting upon request. Artist’s Resale Right: if this painting is resold by the buyer, the artist shall be entitled to a royalty of 5% of the price for the resale and all subsequent resales.

Prefer the original painting? Go HERE.