The Little Thief

When I was a little girl, I was captivated by the book, Misty of Chincoteague. My dog eared, stained copy was a constant companion with me growing up. I was sure that I destined to 'swim with the ponies' and bring a little paint pony home for my very own. Well, I never got to swim with them, but I have had the chance to see them and even get kissed on the face by this very fellow here. It was a childhood fantasy come true!!!
The inspiration for this painting came from my younger years growing up in Oklahoma. I had a shaggy, nasty tempered little shetland pony named Bucky. In the spring, when his thick coat would start to shed, sparrows would land on him, pull a hunk out and fly back to their nest. I used to laugh and laugh. After all, they were saving me the trouble of grooming him.