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Exotic Brilliance – Blue and Gold Macaw

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I love painting parrots...and being able to get to see them and watch their personalities. You may already know, most of the time I tend to paint native North American wildlife - but I do break away occasionally to paint the intense colors as in this Blue and Gold Macaw. This painting sat on my easel for a while to be sure the sheen of soft light and varied feather color came out correctly to reflect the softness. It also has a great amount of detail work in all of the feathers and the other areas of texture - very fun to paint. The miniature painting is 9x12 and painted in watercolor on board. :D Enjoy! - Thanks for dropping by!

 

This is a painting I completed earlier this year that recently arrived for exhibit at Whistle Pik Galleries in Texas.  (I just realized that the painting hadn’t been posted on the blog yet :/ …oops. )

I love painting parrots…and being able to get to see them and watch their personalities.  You may already know, most of the time I tend to paint native North American wildlife – but I do break away occasionally to paint the intense colors as in this Blue and Gold Macaw.   This painting sat on my easel for a while to be sure the sheen of soft light and varied feather color came out correctly to reflect the softness.  It also has a great amount of detail work in all of the feathers and the other areas of texture – very fun to paint.  The miniature painting is 9×12 and painted in watercolor on board. :D  Enjoy! – Thanks for dropping by!

Powwow Dances

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Amazing day – I went to the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe Powwow. Hundreds of beautiful bustles and jingle dresses for the dancing competitions – tribes beating the large drums together and singing for the vocal competitions.

Everything was very impressive. :D (I didn’t, however, get the chance to go to the food booths and check out the fried flat bread and Indian tacos…I heard they were good. But I can’t complain – the dinner I had was superb. :) )

As I mentioned earlier here on the blog, I have some Native American heritage. Years ago my Mom was a part of a tribe and danced in the powwow. One of my artist friends, who is Apache, has been helpful and aided my interests as well.

I had so much fun…I think I will have to see another one soon. :D

Defensive – Timberwolf in Miniature

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I finished this wolf painting, "Defensive", not too long ago - it's a 9"x12" miniature piece that you may have seen 'in progress' here on the blog earlier.

I finished this wolf painting, "Defensive", not too long ago – it’s a 9"x12" miniature piece that you may have seen ‘in progress’ here on the blog earlier.

 

I know that many of these web images online just don't show the detail of the watercolors - so for this one, I posted a larger image crop. I just love painting fur like this, especially the textures and blends of color.

 

I know that many of these web images online just don’t show the detail of the watercolors – so for this one, I posted a larger image crop. I just love painting fur like this, especially the textures and blends of color.

The painting debuted at Galleries West in Jackson, Wyoming and is now in a private collection.

Bald Eagle Miniature

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This piece (about 4" x 6") is a little different than some of my other work, and I thought that some of my visitors might like to see it. 

As you can see, it has a splashy, looser backdrop with the tight detail of the face of the eagle.  (the fluidness of the background brought me back to my early watercolor days. :) )  The painting is more of a study than anything, but I really enjoyed the abstract quality of the blues behind and working the tight detail on the face of the bird.    (…and, yes…it’s still classic miniature because of it’s tight refined detail in the focal point. :D)

The original is a part of a private collection, prints are available.

Leopard in the Grass – Miniature on Ivorine

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This is a recent painting of a leopard on Ivorine. This miniature is very small (shown much larger than actual size). The original painting is sold.

I was able to get up close to this cat to study him. He is a part of a sanctuary for big cats that takes in these beautiful animals that have been a part of the fur trade, illegal animal trafficking, abused, or just overgrown exotic pets that can’t be cared for by their owners any longer. He was just amazing (and a little bit feisty! ;) ) – that experience of being able to get up close to him will inspire my work for a long time. :D

Hadley House Companies

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I am pleased to post that my family and I have just signed with the Hadley Companies. :D

Hadley Licensing is now our exclusive agent of our artwork on all commercial products, representing hundreds of images that are available. With 30+ years in the business, they are one of the leading licensing agents in the USA & Canada.

We are very pleased to have been approached by Hadley for representation. There are already a number of projects in the works – I will let everyone in on the details as soon as I can. :D ….but very happy that our art images are now more widely available to those who enjoy our artwork. :D

Cuddling Subjects

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I just went on a photoshoot the other day - these little guys were SO cute! A few litters of baby wolves.. (This one really liked being scratched. :) ) I also held a baby woodchuck who crawled into my jacket to get warm...he was about the size of a gerbil.... :D I'm kind of eager to get started on a painting of one of these little wolves.

I just went on a photoshoot the other day – these little guys were SO cute! A few litters of baby wolves.. (This one really liked being scratched and cuddled. :) ) I also held a baby woodchuck who crawled into my jacket to get warm…he was about the size of a gerbil…. :D I’m kind of eager to get started on a painting of one of these little wolves.

I just went on a photoshoot the other day - these little guys were SO cute! A few litters of baby wolves.. (This one really liked being scratched. :) ) I also held a baby woodchuck who crawled into my jacket to get warm...he was about the size of a gerbil.... :D I'm kind of eager to get started on a painting of one of these little wolves.

Artist Tales

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No, this isn't the painting being discussed...just eye candy... ;)

I get together with my friends and talk about some of the things that have happened in my ‘adventures’ as an artist…and at least they think that it should be written somewhere… So, as per their request…

At one time, I was represented by an art dealer. There was a beautiful art show, an elegant opening complete with gourmet hors d’oeuvres and wines. The dealer had set everything up and invited clients….they started to arrive…

One couple was looking at and discussing one of my pieces, and then talking to the dealer. Busy with other clients and such, they talked a while before I was motioned over to their conversation. I greeted them and was shown my painting that the people were interested in. It was a new piece of a baby animal that I had done, arranged in the image space so that part of the body was cropped…done on purpose so that it felt like it was up close and personal. The client wanted to know if I could have the entire baby shown. I confirmed that I could do a commission that way, but this one was painted as it was…there wasn’t any more of the animal behind the frame to show. My art dealer, eager for the sale, decided that I could easily use wall spackle to patch another piece of art board to that end of the piece and continue the watercolor painting and began to describe the process….

(Hmmm…uncomfortable situation…. No, for the record, I don’t “spackle” my art together in chunks. Lol! :D The client decided they liked that piece as it was and now have it in their collection. The dealer is still selling art…just not mine… ;) )

(No, this little fawn isn’t the painting being discussed…just eye candy… ;) )

Illuminated – Snowy Egret Miniature Painting

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Here is another painting (pictured in progress) in my studio. It's a snowy egret that I was able to watch on the beach catching minnows in Florida earlier this year (see my 'Bad Hair Day' post...). I started the painting during the NatureWorks show in Tulsa...painting in my family's booth. The painting has been accepted into the Bennington Center For The Arts' Art of the Animal Kingdom Exhibition this summer. ~~~ The painting is titled

 

Here is another painting (pictured in progress) in my studio. It’s a snowy egret that I was able to watch on the beach catching minnows in Florida earlier this year (see my ‘Bad Hair Day‘ post…). I started the miniature painting during the NatureWorks show in Tulsa…painting in my family’s booth. The painting has been accepted into the Bennington Center For The Arts’ Art of the Animal Kingdom Exhibition this summer.

 

The painting is titled "Illuminated" – I was struck by what seemed to be an internal glow of light as the bird was fishing. All of the fine feathers reflecting light seemed to ‘illuminate’ and glow… It seemed to shimmer…as did the little minnows that he pulled out of the ocean. …I had such a fabulous time watching him (and just enjoying the whole environment during my stay…thanks to my friends who put up with me running around to see everything and snapping photos… ;) )

Barn Owl Portrait… A Work In Progress

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I’ve had some requests to post more of my sketches and works-in-progress on my blog…so here’s another painting that is sitting in the studio… ;)
This is a work-in-progress - a barn owl portrait that will debut at th Moosehorn Gallery in Montana. They are having a large event this summer and (...if everything goes well on this piece... ;) ) this will be one of my paintings in their summer show. :D
This is a work-in-progress – a barn owl portrait that will debut at th Moosehorn Gallery in Montana. They are having a large event this summer and (…if everything goes well on this piece… ;) ) this will be one of my paintings in their summer show. :D