Green Dirt Farm is a sheep's milk oasis in Weston, Missouri, just 40 miles from Kansas City, MO. The farm was founded in 2002 by Sarah Hoffmann with the goal to create a sustainable, humane farm to raise her family. The farm and cheesemaking standards are high; they're set by the Animal Welfare Approval and environmentally responsible by the organization A Greener World. I was thrilled to have an opportunity to paint another Missouri cheese and this one is so delicious!

Dirt Lover is a sheep's milk cheese inspired by the ash-coated gems found in france. This 5-6 ounce spool of a wheel is coated with a layer of vegetable ash and then aged for two weeks to develop that bloomy white rind that covers most of the ash. The ripening in the wrapper during its shelf life of roughly 10 weeks, lets the flavors grow and a slightly tangy, creamy ring to work its way towards the center. The texture is dry-creamy density that lets the earthy, yet buttery and mushroom-y flavor emerge without too much slumping, or oozing on a hot summer day, such as the one this was painted. I cant tell you how gratifying it is to sink my teeth into a half wheel that's sat out for a day in the studio; it's bliss.

I couldn't decide how to pose this gorgeous model so I decided on a whole, a half and a quarter wheel as 'triple portrait' for this slim painting.

Country of Origin: USA, Missouri

Availability: sold