Archives for Wildlife

Taking Risks

If things had gone differently, Tammy Garcia might be operating her own beauty salon instead of creating award-winning art that sells as quickly as she can create it. Although she has been making and selling pottery since she was a teenager, at one point she enrolled in a beauty school, but quit because she couldn’t afford to continue. The beauty world’s loss was the art world’s gain. One of the most collectible Pueblo potters today, Garcia creates unique ceramic pieces that include traditional effigies, water jars, and storage jars. Tammy Garcia (New Mexico) Elk Hunter Natural Clay “These pots are
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Making Them Proud

Artistic talent cannot be taught; rather it is birthed by a passion that lies deep within the heart and soul. There is no more shining example of this truism than reflecting on the prolific oeuvre created by Arizona-based sculptor Bill Nebeker during an amazing career that has spanned nearly four decades. Born November 13, 1942, in Twin Falls, Idaho, Nebeker’s early values were shaped by life in the small ranching and farming community. Although he spent many youthful hours whittling images of dogs, horses, miniature saddles, and even small sailing ships from unused wood he found on the family farm,
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Their Walls are Alive

To describe Bob and Curtice McCloy as avid art collectors would be a gross understatement. The couple shares a voracious appetite for art, one they have satisfied during more than three decades by amassing a collection of almost 300 paintings. That collection—or rather a portion of it—is featured in “Patrons Without Peer,” a 240-page, hardcover book that was published in 2009 by Collectors Covey with text written by Tom Davis. Included within its pages are reproductions of more than 260 paintings and sculptures by a myriad of artists. Bob Kuhn Fox in the Ferns Acrylic 13.25″ x 18″ William Acheff
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Inner Dyamics

Star York’s sculptures have earned her an enviable reputation as a talented artist, whose works are a delightful combination of composition and color. Whether she is depicting people or animals, she is driven to create renditions that are anatomically accurate and aesthetically appealing. Her success in accomplishing both is evident in impressive sales and loyal collectors. Star York (New Mexico) Cougar Bronze 48˝ by 23˝ “The expression on this mountain lion comes from our big cat, who loves to stretch out on his favorite rock, proudly surveying his domain.” Star York (New Mexico) Like Father Bronze 28˝ by 12˝ “We
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‘The Pioneer Spirit is Alive and Well’

Sheep wandering through Aspen groves in their high mountain pasture, knee high snow drifts blanketing hillsides and valleys, a cowhand working a herd of cattle, youngsters doing their daily chores. These scenes are familiar to artist Grant Redden, whose paintings celebrate the pioneer traditions and unspoiled beauty found in the southwestern corner of Wyoming, where the 53-year-old artist was born, raised, and still resides. Grant Redden (Wyoming) Gathering Potatoes Oil 16˝ by 20˝ “Pioneer girls and their mothers worked hard—as hard as men—to carve out a life and survive. My daughter had to go out and pick potatoes anyway, so
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Passion and Paint

He’s young, he’s enthusiastic—and he’s talented. At just 29, Adam Smith is making quite a name for himself with his wildlife paintings, and he’s more than a little thrilled at having the opportunity to partake of everything involved in that process, from travel to research to the actual creation of his realistic renditions. Adam Smith (Montana) Hide and Seek Acrylic 24˝ by 30˝ “Wolves are in their prime during the winter months. A little game of hide and seek will soon give chase.”
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‘Let’s Just Paint’

When she was a senior in high school, Barbara Edwards met a recruiter from Utah State University, who had brought with him original artworks created by several of the professors there. Included was what Barbara describes as a “gorgeous painting by Glen Edwards.” Today, whenever she wants to view one of his paintings, all Barbara has to do is turn her head. She and Glen have been married for 37 years now and happily paint in the same studio at their home north of Salt Lake City, Utah. “We paint side by side,” she says. “Our easels are about five
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Tenacity and Talent

Edward Aldrich, or Ned as anyone who spends more than five minutes in his company calls him, has been an artist, mostly a wildlife artist, for the past 25 years. It is all that he ever aspired to do. It’s the only kind of work he’s ever done. “If the economy doesn’t turn around pretty soon, I may be in trouble, because art is all I know,” Aldrich says with a laugh. Although he always loved art, and it was always his focus, the defining moment came for Aldrich during adolescence. When models were brought into his art class, his
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No Substitute for Being There

Last November when Daniel Smith was roughing it at the Tundra Buggy Hotel at Cape Churchill, Canada, he was just doing what comes naturally to a wildlife artist —research. Some of his companions on the Arctic excursion were professional polar bear researchers, so Smith had the benefit of scientific knowledge as he observed the bears up close and personal. Having traveled to Africa seven times, as well as journeying to Alaska on several occasions, Smith knows there is no substitute for those in-person treks to keep him fresh in his painting. He’s already scheming to get to Svalbard, Norway to
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Poetry in Three Dimensions

Sherry Sander marvels at how her life has unfolded, grateful to be able to sculpt animals and do what she loves. Sherry Sander (Montana) On The Jump Bronze 15″ High By 16″ Wide We had a pretty little Springer named Buddy, who loved to take us for walks in our grain fields. With her nose to the ground, intersecting our straight path left to right and back again, she walked in the hope that there might be a flush to experience. Sherry Sander (Montana) A Dissonant Descent Bronze 12.5″ High By 8″ Wide In music, dissonant might refer to notes
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