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Upcoming Show for the Holidays – Contemporary Miniatures

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. Teddy Bear Miniature Painting . Watercolor on Board, Classic Traditional Miniature .

With the Holidays just around the corner, I want to extend an invitation to attend Whistle Pik Galleries 2008 Christmas Miniature Show Artist Reception Saturday, December 6th from 6 – 8 pm.  My last post had a video of one of my paintings in the exhibit.  This little teddy will also be in their contemporary miniature show. (..let me tell you, he was SO fun to paint…  I don’t get to paint festive splashes of color every day, you know! ;) )

If you’d like a sneak peek, all of the show pieces will be on line and available for purchase beginning November 21, 2008.  Click here to go to our website: http://www.whistlepik.com. Then click on “events” at the bottom of their home page to view the two part slideshow.  They have a lot of variety in the styles of art in the exhibit, and it is awesome (both to see the art and the gallery itself) to see in person.  I hope you can come. :D   Happy Holidays! (…a little early. ;) )

New YouTube Video – Trumpeter Swans Watercolor Miniature

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[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TUTQePJu5Ds[/youtube]

This is my newest video on YouTube – “On Golden Pond – Trumpeter Swans” traditional miniature in watercolor on board.  The original is a part of a collection of my paintings being exhibited at the Whistle Pik Galleries’ Christmas Miniature Show this year, a contemporary miniature art exhibit in central Texas.  (I’m very pleased to be a resident artist at the gallery.  Please drop in if you have the chance…they are some of the nicest people in the business. :D )

http://www.whistlepik.com

Brown Pelican Watercolor

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I have never painted a brown pelican before – this is my first.  I have completed several small white pelican pieces, however – but the brown seemed to be much more ‘exotic’ in it’s coloring.  It was a real treat to paint it.

Being in the near-center of North America, I never saw a lot of these birds until I traveled to the coasts.  I have had so many nice opportunities to watch them – especially enjoying their stunning displays as they dive into the ocean fishing.  One of my galleries on the East Coast suggested that I paint this one for them…so I did. :D

 

I chose this plumage phase of the pelican because of the striking coloring.  The colors seemed to compliment each other so well.  I posted a cropped image of the head so one can see the fine feathers and texture that are in the painting.  (The scans are, however, a bit harsh compared to the original painting.)

The original watercolor was a part of a contemporary miniature show at Decoys and Wildlife Gallery – http://www.decoyswildlife.com and is now in a private collection.

Giclee prints are available of this piece – please drop me an email if you would like to add it to your collection.

Watercolor Portrait – Great Horned Owl In Miniature

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Great Horned Owl Watercolor Painting...in miniature

Wildlife Art; Great Horned Owl Watercolor Painting...in miniature

 

This piece is a portrait of a Great Horned Owl that fades off into the warm brown background.  I haven’t painted a vinyette recently…  I usually try to complete the subject to the edges of the frame. (…something that one of my teachers taught that really stuck. ;) )

For this owl painting I wanted something softer.  This is Sam from the Minnesota Raptor Center – one of their education birds that cannot be released.  She lives at the Raptor Center.  I love watching her.  She always seems to have a regal look about her (regal…with attitude…).

The painting is about 6″ x 6″ and is watercolor painted on board.

Cougar Miniature Watercolor Painting – Youtube Video

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This is my newest video on YouTube – a 4×6 painting of a cougar (mountain lion, puma…), watercolor on board (in miniature, of course… ;) ).  The title of the piece is “The Overseer – Cougar”.  She seemed to enjoy peering down on everyone that came to admire her – sometimes stalking those of us that were smaller than the others.  (Luckily, this was not a close encounter in the woods….)

This painting was completed earlier this year and sold.  Limited edition giclee prints are available of the painting.

Painting for Contemporary Miniature Shows & Other Events

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As I posted in twitter earlier, I have been very swamped lately ( …seems like I’m always saying that… :? ).  

I just completed some works for exhibits that will open around the end of the year (I will post more about that later on).

I did get to escape for a day or so to see the Federal Duck Stamp events in Bloomington, MN.  It was held in Minnesota for the first time, so there were a few parties and of course the exhibit and judging.  Loved being able to see it again.  I’ve been too busy with paintings for other places to have the time to squeeze in an entry for the contest, so I cheered on my friends instead. :)  I’ve been to the events a number of times in the past when the government sent my family out to Washington, D.C. when it was exclusively held at the dept. of the Interior – everything supplied generously by the Federal Jr. Duck Stamp Program.  …but that was a number of years ago.

For the time being, I am working on paintings for 7 invitational exhibits during the holidays – most of which are contemporary miniature shows.  My representing galleries, Whistle Pik Galleries (Texas) & Galleries West (Wyoming),  hold their annual contemporary miniature shows this time of the year for their patrons.  I was also invited to be a part of ‘Almost Miniatures’ (Massachusetts), ‘It’s A Small World’ (Florida), and Planet Bronze Gallery’s show (Montana).  My other galleries are also having seasonal events that I will be supplying paintings for as well.

To the left is a miniature painting that will be shown in one of the exhibits.  A little raccoon in a tree hollow – watercolor on board.  I started it the other day and it is pictured here nearly finished.

New Video – YouTube Painting Video

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This is a new video of “Sunrise – Screech Owl” that was just published on YouTube.  (Let me know what you think in the comments :) )

The painting is available through Whistle Pik Galleries in Texas

 

Also, I would like to invite you to join the Collector’s List.

To tell you a little about it…  The Collector’s List is for individuals that would like to receive special emails and notices from my studio.  I really appreciate all of the support that I have from collectors, supporters, and those who consider themselves to be ‘fans’.  Members of the Collector’s List receive special invitations and get notices before it is made available to the rest of the public.

Most of all, the Collector’s List gives me the opportunity to connect with all of you directly.   I welcome responses, your thoughts and ideas.  

Sign up to join the Collector’s List today!  (It’s ok if you don’t own a painting or print – it’s not required to join. ;) )  

-Your email will NEVER be given away or sold – I hate spam as much as you do.-

Snow Leopard – Small Miniature

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This is a small snow leopard painting that I recently finished – watercolor on ivorine.  The head of the cat is just about 2 inches height/width.  Being one of the smaller miniatures, it didn’t spend a lot of extra time on my easel, just a few days – one thing that I do like about painting the smaller ones. ;)

I’ve been wanting to paint another big cat, a snow leopard inparticular, for some time – I think it’s been about a year since I painted one.  I love big cats and the intense expressions that they have.  It’s such a challenge to capture their look in a painting.  Snow leopards are so beautiful with all of the soft grays in their fur that contrast with the crisp black spotting – very fun to paint. :D

Being that these beautiful cats are an endangered species, it makes painting them a little more special.  The Snow Leopard Trust has done a lot to help these cats through donations and volunteers – http://www.snowleopard.org/

(Click on the images to see a larger image of the cat painting in a new window)  This painting is currently available.

Timberwolf Painting – The Starting Point

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This is the beginnings of a wolf piece – the sepia stage (My favorite part….where the essence of the piece is painted in crisp watercolor).  The painting is one of my larger miniatures at 24″ x 36″ – so adding all of the texture to the animal, covering the large space, can take a bit more time.  I do love having so much space to work with… :D

The painting has progressed since these photos were taken and is now on my easel in the color phase and nearly completed (with a number of small adjustments still on my to-do list ;) ).  I will have some newer snapshots of the wolf in it’s current painting-stage to post soon.

This painting will be showing at Galleries West in Jackson Hole when it is completed – www.gallerieswestjacksonhole.com.

Note – Click on either image of the painting to see a larger image of the artwork.

Federal Duck Stamp – Home State Celebration

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Joe Hautman giving a speech at the 2008 Federal Duck Stamp Homestate Celebration in Owatonna, MN.

Joe Hautman speaking at the Federal Duck Stamp home state celebration in Owatonna, MN.

My family and I were invited to Joe Hautman’s home state celebration recently in Owatonna, MN for the 2008 Federal Duck Stamp – working with some of the organization committee with the art events and children’s area.  Joe is working on a project with the University of Saint Thomas to create a Minnesota Wildlife Art Museum to highlight Minnesota artists and what they do to bring issues of conservation to light.  In the past has helped restore wetlands in MN through conservation groups also.

I was asked to paint on location for the event, so I started a new piece the night before for the occasion…being that this event was held outdoors, I was a little concerned that the weather might not cooperate.  So, to prevent possible damage from an unpredicted rain storm, or whatever else nature might bring, I chose to start a new painting instead of bringing an existing work-in-progress.  (I actually, started blocking in the piece around 4am that morning…  More sleep dep… :/ lol! )  The cougar I’m working on is 20×24.  I will post a more complete image of the painting for you soon. :D

A number of representatives of the media came through the event, including Kent Herbeck Outdoors television, to film, shoot photos, and interview.