This painting began as a commission for someone who gave me only these limitations-- please, include a rooster, a hen, and some chicks. But otherwise, do whatever you like. The best thing was painting and watching the story develop; depending on what mood I'm in and what I need at the moment, I can find different meanings-- which is an exciting thing in a painting about chickens! Perhaps ten years ago, in urban Portland, I kept three hens and enjoyed them enormously. Chickens seem to see life entirely fresh each day. While they never seem to remember much of anything, this gives them great enthusiasm for rediscovering the same old backyard anew, every single morning.