Since my childhood, horses have been among my favorite animals. I spent most of my school vacations on my uncle's farm in Holland. The big work horses became one of my favorite subjects to draw. The smell of horse stables still reminds me of my youth. There were lots of other animals in the stables that caught my attention, such as mice, spiders, swallows and sparrows. The birds found good nesting places in the farm buildings. I always enjoyed watching them build their nests. It was fun to see them gathering their nesting materials and working on the nest all day long. Most people don't pay much attention to sparrows because they are so common, but if you take a good look at them, you will see that they are beautiful little birds worthy of being painted. - CB