In the highly competitive world of fine art, where building a national reputation might take decades, it is remarkable to note that 36-year-old, Montana-based wildlife artist Kyle Sims already has amassed an impressive list of honors, many of which were attained before he turned 30. In 2004, the Society of Animal Artists honored him with its Distinguished Young Artist Award, and the following year his work was included in the Arts for the Parks touring exhibition. In 2009, Sims not only received a coveted invitation to show his work in the Prix de West Invitational at Oklahoma City’s Cowboy and
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Archives for Wildlife
Finding His Voice
While preparing for a massive show in 2013, Montana sculptor Tim Shinabarger found himself spending 70 hours a week in the studio. Stepping away from the show circuit maelstrom and what he describes as the marketing treadmill that consume so much of an artist’s time brought with it a wonderful surprise. Spending that much quality time in his studio put the sculptor in a new artistic space, a place of skill and confidence that was unprecedented for him. Even though Shinabarger’s past experience in taxidermy had provided him with an in-depth understanding of animal anatomy, this intense concentration reawakened his
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Sweet Sixteen
Contacted in mid-August to see if he would be available on the following Wednesday afternoon to do the interview for this article, Kyle Ma replied, “That won’t work; I’ll be in school.” If all you knew about Ma was that he creates beautifully rendered paintings of everything from landscapes and seascapes to flowers and chickens, you would quite naturally assume that the reason he would be in school on a Wednesday was that he would be teaching art classes. And you would be oh, so wrong. Ma is taking classes, not teaching them. You see, this remarkable painter is a
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The Studio of Richard Loffler
Born and raised in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, 60-year-old wildlife sculptor Richard Loffler is passionate about the natural world that surrounds him and has been for as long as he can remember. He draws his inspiration from the splendor of the region’s big skies, vast prairies, and especially its abundant wildlife. A large, three-sectioned structure already was on the property, when Loffler purchased it in 2012. “The middle building was an empty shell, so I had the luxury of designing a studio space to fit my needs,” he says. Measuring 40’ by 40’, the studio’s ceiling rises up 22 feet, providing
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‘This is My Calling’
Best known for his magnificent stone carvings, Oreland Joe also puts his artistic skills to good use in creating bronze sculptures, as well as paintings and jewelry. His creativity doesn’t end there, however. “I’ve ventured into filmmaking and am writing a book,” he says, adding that the process for both will take two to three years to complete. “The film is an historic documentary about a 4-year-old Ute boy who was stolen by the Cheyenne in 1849. He was called Yellow Nose and was adopted and raised by Spotted Wolf, head chief of the Northern Cheyenne. At age 12, there
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‘There Was Always a Plan’
Patient and painstakingly precise as he creates masterworks in oil, Canadian artist Bruce Lawes evokes an equally dedicated passion when it comes to shaping his own artistic destiny. His first painting sale at the age of 12 confirmed his innate artistic abilities, but the direction that talent would take was not clarified until six years later, when his father brought home a stunning coffee table book titled “The Art of Robert Bateman.” “I was absolutely mesmerized by his imagery,” Lawes says. “It brought my love for nature into focus and defined my goal to be able to paint like Bateman
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‘There’s an Honesty to Sculpture’
Before Rod Zullo became a fine artist, he was a fisherman. For 10 years, he worked on big sport fishing boats in the Caribbean, logging 14-hour days for months at a time. Those long hours of hard work served as great preparation for him, as he traveled the road to becoming the award-winning sculptor he is today. They allowed Zullo to save up enough money to enroll at Montana State University in Bozeman, where he studied studio arts. They provided an opportunity for him to learn how to schmooze with clients and enjoy the social side of work. They gave
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Trusting His Vision
By Utah artist James Morgan never for a moment questioned his destiny. He would be an artist. Yes, there were challenges along the way, but anything worth doing often comes with some trials, and he was not deterred—slowed down, maybe, but not deterred. Although he uneasily glosses over the time he spent working days at a piano factory (something he’d like to forget entirely) and nights at his easel, it’s clear that Morgan has earned his credentials. The rewards have been worth it. And Morgan admits that working in that piano factory got him over a financial hump, while he
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‘Liberating the Spirit’
In the world of art and literature, Tony Angell is best known as an award-winning wildlife sculptor, painter, and author. However, to the corvids, owls, and sea mammals that have long inspired his creative spark, he has become an “angel” in the truest sense of the word. Infusing his stunning stone and bronze sculptures with a spirituality gained through a lifetime of firsthand observation, Angell has created an oeuvre of images whose value lies both in their aesthetic beauty and their ability to fuel the viewer’s desire to fully understand and protect these magnificent creatures of the wild. Tony Angell
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Up Close and Personal
In an ideal world, Bonnie Marris would get out for a long horseback ride every day. Especially in the fall, when the trees around her northern Michigan home transition to brilliant yellow and reds, she would love to settle in for a daily ride. But it doesn’t always work out that way. “I would feel too guilty,” Marris says, “because of the dogs. It’s too hard to bring them with, and I can’t seem to do much without them. I don’t know who has more separation anxiety—them, or me.” That connection to her animals—she and her husband, landscape artist Woody
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