Distant Thunder 
Andrew Wyeth,1961

“The picture evolved in a strange way.  I had wanted to paint my wife, Betsy, picking blueberries, but nothing worked.  It was just someone picking—sort of trite.  I really struggled, but got nowhere, until I decided to hide.  I sneaked along the edge of the woods and found her sleeping.  I made a quick drawing.  As I finished it, I could hear thunder way off in the direction of East Waldoboro.  Suddenly, out of the grass, popped our dog Rattler’s head, his ears up, cupped, hearing those distant sounds.  The sky had that yellowish cast it gets before big storms.  All of a sudden I realized there was too much face.  I painted in the hat.  That made the picture.”   ~Andrew Wyeth