Bison Study 6.5″ x 6″

I have just returned from a lovely and inspiring trip to Jackson, WY and Grand Teton National Park.  I made the trip with friend and fellow artist Dustin Van Wechel. We made the trip to attend the festivities surrounding Jackson during the Fall Arts Festival. Many artists, along with collectors, can be found roaming the streets checking out all the galleries and other public art exhibitions that take place during the festival. I saw many friends and met some new ones while taking in some of the best wildlife and western art in the country.

I also was fortunate to spend quite a bit of time in Horizon Fine Art where my work is represented in Jackson. My most sincere thanks to Barbara and Monica for making me feel welcome and at home. If you are in Jackson please stop in to Horizon and see my work along with the work of many other wonderful artists. Barbara and Monica will gladly help you whatever your needs may be.

While in the gallery I started a small demonstration piece which I have recently completed. It is the small bison study attached to this post. The balance of my time was spent with Dustin photographing in the Park. We encountered mostly moose but were also entertained by otters, pronghorn antelope, bison, an occasional elk and various and sundry birds. It was an awesome reference gathering trip as I came home with enough moose reference to last me a long time. And moose was the animal I was sorely in need of as far as reference material is concerned. I will post some photos in a future blog post.

So thanks Dustin and thank you Barbara and Monica at Horizon for a great week! Thanks also to Lyn, Amy, Tiffany, and Tiffany and Brian for hanging out!  Everything is better with friends.

“Hitting The High Notes”  15″ x 5″           Detail

A rare vertical piece for me. A little marsh wren doing his duty letting the other birds know where he stands.

The drawings are all completed from reference gleaned from  a recent trip to the greater Jackson Yellowstone area. I will try to post some pictures of that trip soon.

El Jefe 7.5 x 20  pencil

George and Gracie 8 x 6  pencil

Upon Reflection 8 x 6  pencil

The Stink Eye – 12 x 22 inches

A relatively large piece for me. Rendering the fur textures at this scale was a particular challenge.  This is a young but definitely up and coming bison bull who was not thrilled about me photographing him.

Dream Catcher 7.5″ x 5.5″

Latest work earmarked for Reflections of Nature my next show in Fallbrook, CA the weekend of May 6th – 8th. I hope you can join me in viewing some wonderful nature inspired art. Stop by my booth and say hello.

The Gleaners 15″ x 12″

My latest work inspired by some reference given to me by fellow artist and good friend Jim Bortz. The title is from the Francois Millet painting which was running through my mind as I worked on this one.

Marginal Landing 14″ x 14″

Just finished this one up. We will let it sit a few days and see how it looks then.

I love Magpie. I have been trying to work in another magpie drawing for about a year now. I finally got some reference, at the San Diego Zoo of all places, to fit one into this sort of smooshed to one side composition I have had kicking around my head for a while. Is it successful? You tell me.

No Title Yet 8″ x 9″

Well I skipped the next in progress step and posted the finished piece. This drawing was done in three fairly intensive sessions and I never photographed the second session. So this is pretty much the finished piece. I will let it sit a bit and make any adjustments I think are necessary. If there is anything any of you feel I need to address please feel free to let me know. And a title would be appreciated as well!

Also a big thank you to the staff at SEWE for once again providing an amazing venue for the patrons and public to view and appreciate the artists and all the exhibitors. You all certainly earn your keep. Quite literally there would be no show without you.

Lastly I would like to thank all of my artist friends their moms and spouses and especially my housemates for making SEWE one of my favorite times of year. I can’t wait to see you all (except Dustin) again next year.

Big news on the gallery front, while away for SEWE,  I am thrilled to announce that I have garnered new representation for my work at the Main Street Gallery in Annapolis, MD and at Lovetts Gallery in Tulsa, OK. I am honored and excited to have my work hanging in these wonderful galleries. If you are close to either one please take the time to check out the work I have on display there. Jack at Lovetts Gallery or Margaret at Main Street Gallery will bee happy to help you.

Main Street Gallery will be having a three person exhibition in April that will include my work. I will share details of the show when I get them. The show will include some of my work that is already at the gallery along with a couple of new pieces that I am working on now. One of which I have the beginnings of attached here. I will post more in progress shots soon!

An Unkindness 10″ x 30″

An unkindness is old virtually unused term for a group of Ravens.  I like some of the weird words used for groups of animals like a crash of rhinos or a flamboyance of flamingos.  Ravens being my favorite bird and probably my favorite subject to depict also have one of my favorite group names.  So it was only a matter of time before I titled a drawing An Unkindness.

This is also the last major work I completed before heading off to Charleston, SC for the South Eastern Wildlife Expo February 18th-20th.  If you are able to get to South Carolina I would love to see you so stop by my booth at the Charleston Place Hotel and say hello.