Leave My Calf Alone Oil on canvas 24 1/2 x 18 1/2" Signed and dated lower left: Nicholas S. Firfires, 1960 Framed to 23" x 29" Nicholas S. Firfires was born in Santa Barbara and grew up on ranches in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo County. A descendant of California vaqueros, Nick learned all the skills of working cowboys: breaking horses, herding cattle, and working cow ponies before he graduated from Santa Maria High School. Mr. Firfires’ other passion was drawing animals, cowboys, Native Americans, vaqueros and Western scenery. Later he wrote, "I soon realized that painting a bronc stomper breaking a horse was more important to me than doing the job myself." Nicholas Firfires was a founding member of the Cowboy Artists of America and a member of the Rancheros Visitadores.