Wild Places, Wild Animals, Wild Experiences

The natural wilderness is filled with extremely beautiful and breathtaking views, habitats, and creatures.  Nonetheless, it is a wild and rugged terrain that is treacherous.  Many of the beautiful creatures that I study to render in my work are predators.  Because of this, there is always a certain danger to study them — whether it is in a zoo, on a wilderness safari, or with a trained animal.  But danger or not, there is no magnificence like anything I have been able to observe anywhere other than in the spirit of wild creatures or their untamed environment.

Being raised in a family that has a bond with the outdoors and the environment, I have always been taught to respect it.  In travels and adventures to capture the essence of wildlife and wild places, my family and I have been in a number of close encounters, including being charged by bears, stalked by tigers and leopards, knocked off our feet by wolves, grizzlies that are a bit too close to the hiking trail, and most recently, attacked by a cougar that plays a little rough (teeth in the base of my neck was a bit too far for me). 

I am always striving to represent the beauty and delicacy of nature in my work, but I also hope the significance of each species is conveyed as well.  Nature and all of the wildlife that resides in it is to be taken seriously and should be valued.  Each small part of our world makes up the delicate ecosystem that holds our lives in balance.