Jump for Joy

Oil on hardwood panel, 4’ × 2’

I grew up on a dairy farm in Los Baños, where Basque sheep herders would guide large flocks of lambs down from the foothills to graze in the fields. Among all the rhythms of farm life, nothing delighted me more than the sight of the baby lambs—full of mischief, innocence, and boundless energy—leaping into the air as if joy alone could lift them.

This painting captures that fleeting moment when a lamb seems to defy gravity—suspended in midair for no reason other than the pure fun of being alive. It is a tribute to the carefree spirit of those early days on the farm and to the small, exuberant miracles that stay with us long after we’ve grown.

It all kicked off with a 2'x4' gesso hardwood board, some inspiration, and a burnt twig.

I wanted to try something modern, so I went with a bright green wash and started by laying down a thick layer of titanium white.

At this point, I added a blue-grey sky using the Golden Mean proportion and added more detail to the little lamb, still aiming to keep a modern vibe.

I wasn't really liking the way the background was going. The lamb seemed more like it was floating instead of jumping—it needed some ground to jump from. So, I decided to go with a dry and green pasture. I wanted a small barn right in the middle of the green pasture and added more details to the lamb.

I put in a little barn and a reflective pond, and I also focused on making the lamb's face more expressive and added more texture. Plus, I tweaked the background tones a bit.

I finally felt good about the entire painting. I checked out all the usual spots for a frame but came up empty. I knew exactly what I wanted, so I figured I'd just make it myself. I went with poplar because of its light color, and all I really needed to do was give the frame a coat of varnish. When I look at this painting, a little half-smile appears on my face, thinking of the pure joy of the little lamb jumping just for being alive.