Wigeon Painting in Progress

Here is a picture of my studio desk and the painting I am working on which consists of a pair of wigeon drakes standing among some marsh grasses. On my desk is also a pair of actual wigeon drakes that I was lucky enough to get while hunting this past weekend. These "in hand" specimens are allowing me to add incredible feather detail to my painting. It reminds me of the way John James Audubon used to paint for his field guides. He shot his birds first, which enabled him to closely observe the feathers and the anatomy of birds. There truly is no better reference than a bird in hand (better than two in the bush).

On the computer are wigeon photographs that I have taken and am also using for various parts of the painting, but they compare little to the actual birds. I will post the finished painting soon.
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Happy New Year

I hope you have a safe and very Happy New Year!

My family and I traveled to the Lake Tahoe area for the Christmas Holiday and have returned after a wonderful vacation. Check back soon for the first blog post of 2010!
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Robert Paul Galleries

I am very excited to announce that Robert Paul Galleries in Stowe, Vermont will be representing my artwork in the New England area. Stowe is a 200 year old ski town that thrives year around in a picturesque part of our country. Robert Paul Galleries, whose main emphasis is on realistic art, showcases both local Vermont artists as well as artists from around the world. Two of the paintings that will be exhibited in the gallery are pictured here. The first is Evening Waters that features a flyfisherman on a misty, evening trout stream. The second is Icy Ride featuring a pair of hooded mergansers cascading down a wintery tributary. These birds love fishing in open moving water when everything else is frozen. For more informationa and more paintings and prints that they will be carrying feel free to click on the website link above.
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Audubon Wild Arts Festival

It's been a crazy couple of weeks with the Thanksgiving holiday and lots of family in town. And just before that was the Audubon Wild Arts Festival in which I set up a booth to exhibit my work. The show was a success and, hopefully, a sign of things to come as the crowds were large and people were purchasing artwork from everybody. Despite the rainy weather, there was an energy at the show that I haven't seen in a while and it was definitely a welcome sight. Here are a few pictures of my booth before the show started on Saturday morning.

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Collector's Covey

This past Friday, the annual miniatures show took place at Collector's Covey in Dallas, Texas. Well known artists from around the country sent their work to this fantastic show and I was honored to be included for the second year in a row. If you click on the link above it will take you to the exhibition page where you can view all of the artwork they had in this year's show as well as from previous years' shows.

My two paintings are pictured here. The first features a flock of wood ducks peacefully cruising through a secluded backwater. The painting measures 6" x 17" and is titled Backwater Bounty. The second was one of my daily paintings titled Drake Pintails and it depicts a pair of male Northern Pintails resting in the cover of a wetland. At 5" x 5" it is truely a miniature original painting.

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New Print - Ending Rain

The new print has arrived! Ending Rain is a giclee on canvas that measures 16" x 24". A giclee print is an elegant, state-of-the-art reproduction that gives a vibrant color rendition of the original painting. Giclees are produced one print at a time and depending on their size, the intricate process can take up to an hour or more. The result is always the same: a beautifully reproduced work of art with the look and feel of the original. For more information you can click on the above link.
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Teal Reflections - 2011 DU National Package Selection

I was recently informed of some great news - the above painting, Teal Reflections, has been selected for the 2011 Ducks Unlimited National Art Package! The print will be distributed to Ducks Unlimited banquets and auctions throughout the country to help raise money for wetland habitat throughout North America. Ducks Unlimited invests millions of dollars annually into projects and land acquisitions to ensure that our children and their children have a place to enjoy the waterfowl that fill our skies each fall and winter. Each year artwork plays a vital role in their fundraising efforts and it is an incredible honor to be a part of it by being included in the national package.

The painting depicts a lone drake greenwing teal resting during the early evening hours. This shallow, marshy habitat is perfect for this smallest species of dabbling duck. Greenwing teal have always been a favorite of mine as much for their handsome plumage as for their exciting, twisting, turning flights.
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7th Place - Federal Duck Stamp Contest

This wood duck is my entry into the recent 2009 Federal Duck Stamp Contest and it tied for 7th place. This is my highest finish ever and it was my highest point total ever. Winning the federal is one of the hardest things to do in the entire art world and, hopefully, I will get the chance to come out on top one day. Robert Bealle of Waldorf, MD won this year's competition with a beautiful painting of an American Wigeon. Fortunately, my painting placed high enough to travel with the top twenty on a national tour with the first stop being the Waterfowl Festival in Easton, MD.
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Yellowstone Trips

In August and September I took two separate trips to Yellowstone National Park and Grand Teton National Park as well as surrounding areas. I came away with tons of reference material of elk, grizzly bears, bison, pronghorns and numerous other animals. If you have never been, it is an incredible experience not only for the wildlife, but for the geological features as well.

One of the highlights from the first trip was seeing a grizzly bear up close. Normally, these cause huge traffic jams but it was right at first light and we had him all to ourselves for about 15 mins. as he lifted deadfall searching for insects as close as 20 yards at times. A car finally pulled up behind us as the bear sauntered off into the willows. The guy in the car looked intently to see what we were looking at but must not have seen him as he quickly drove off. He had no idea! I got some fantastic and unique photos that will inspire several paintings. I am trying to figure out how best to approach these shots to create a great painting that best captures the thrill of a grizzly bear encounter.

Above is a finished painting of the Lamar Valley titled Lamar Evening. I was trying to capture the essence of this valley where heards of bison, elk and pronghorn roam. Predators are attracted to the number of animals in this place as it harkens back to a day when there great herds of animals throughout our country. On this particular evening several flocks of Canada Geese lifted off the river and flew by.

Currently I have three paintings in the works from the trip - a coyote, a bull elk (the rut was in full swing in September) and a landscape of some aspens in front of the Tetons. I'll post them as soon as I finish them. Normally, I have posted the paintings as they have progressed, but each is far enough along now that I'll just wait until the finished product.

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The C Gallery

The C Gallery of Los Alamos, CA has a miniatures show opening tomorrow night. I have three pieces in the show and fourth piece in the gallery. Picture here are two of them Long-Billed Curlew 5"x5" acrylic on board and Feeding Pintail 4"x4" acrylic on board.

I have family that lives in the area and will attend the show and the owner, Connie Rohde used to teach with my brother-in-law at Santa Ynez High School - small world! It will be great to get some artwork back into the area as the long standing Peppertree Art Show (see older posts) has closed it doors due to the sale of the Peppertree Ranch.
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