American River #1 30" x 30" acrylic on canvas

SOLD

This painting is one of two that were completed this week as a commission for the lobby of a law office in Sacramento. Lots of color and a looser style is what was requested. The paintings were a lot of fun and very freeing (the second will be posted tomorrow). I feel that these paintings pushed me as an artist and taught me something about the use of color and how colors can play off one another. I bought tubes of paint that I don't normally use like magenta and bright aqua green. Look for future daily paintings to subtly incorporate a bit more of a vivid color palette while still maintaining the realism.

My Website

Waxwings 4" x 4" acrylic $225

This pair of cedar waxwings was passing a berry back and forth for a few minutes this morning - just enough time to inspire a daily painting. I'm not sure if the exchanging was a mating ritual or not, but it was interesting to watch.
My Website

Greenwing Teal 4" x 4" acrylic

SOLD
The greenwing teal is the smallest of our North American waterfowl and it is among the handsomest. This daily painting portrays a male swimming calmly on a clear day.
My Website

Robin's Nest 5" x 5" acrylic

SOLD
A clutch of nestly snuggled robin's eggs.
My Website

Spring Goldfinch 5" x 5" acrylic $245

SOLD
This male goldfinch landed on the top of the autumn blaze maple right in front of my window yesterday. This time of year they are striking in their breeding plumage.
My Website

American Wigeon 4" x 4" acrylic $225

An American wigeon comes in over the reeds. This daily painting is a study for a possible federal duck stamp idea where the main focus is on the bird.
My Website

Ellensburg National

This weekend I will be traveling to Ellensburg, WA to participate in the 37th annual National Art Show and Auction which will feature the following attractions:

- Talented new artists and nationally-acclaimed artists display and sell original art and prints
- Quick draws and artist demonstrations
- Auction includes original artwork and quick draw pieces
- Over 14,000 square feet of climate controlled show space
- Free parking
- Food vendors - Three Peaks Outfitters of Cle Elum, WA will be serving delicious cast iron cooking for all to enjoy. Stop by the encampment for a unique and filling meal. Beverages are being run by Young Life of Ellensburg

My Website

Tundra Swan 7" x 5" acrylic

SOLD
A tundra swan stands peacefully in a shallow wetland. They are identifiable by the yellow tear drop just under the eye and they often intermingle with trumpeter swans.
My Website

Reflections 4" x 4" acrylic

SOLD
This daily painting depicts a black-necked stilt wading through some calm water. It is from the same reference I used for an earlier studio painitng a couple of years ago of two stilts moving through some calm waters, which you can see at this link.
My Website

Gray Jay 4" x 4" acrylic

SOLD

This daily painting is of a gray jay as he perches atop a fallen tree. They are common in Oregon in the mountains especially around campsites where they have been nicknamed "camp robbers". Another common name for this species is a Canada Jay. They can be tame enough to eat right out of your hand if you hold out a piece of food.
My Website

Long-Billed Curlew 5" x 5" acrylic $245

The final painting in the series is of a long-billed curlew - another species that can be found in sandy, coastal habitats.
My Website

Sandy Habitat Series - Set of Four $735

This set is complete and available for sale. Sold as a group of four for the price of three, $735, or individually for $245.

My Website

Egret 5" x 5" acrylic $245

SOLD
On a cool, crisp morning a great egret cruises overhead. An unseen, newly fallen snow below helps subtly highlight the undersides of this magnificent bird.
My Website

Flooded Fields 5 3/4" x 8 3/4"

SOLD
A pair of horses traverse a flooded field on their way to drier ground. These fields are located just outside of Burns, Oregon and flood every spring. The area is a haven for waterfowl, which is why I was there. However, when I saw this scene, I had to paint it.
My Website

Caspian Tern 5" x 5" acrylic $245

#3 in a series of bird paintings with the sandy background. This one is a caspian tern, another species found in this habitat. There will be four total and I'm looking forward to seeing them as a set.
My Website

Northern Shovelers 18"x13" acrylic NFS

This painting is for the California Duck Stamp Competition. It is a group of northern shovelers brilliantly lit up against a cloudy background. Often times int he field it is the distinctive white chests and wing linings that light up in the sky that makes the ducks easily identifiable. There large, spoon-like bills for which they are aptly named, are also an easy identifying marker for this species.

An interesting note is that duck stamp contests pick the species they would like and dictate the size of the submissions. The rest is left up to the artists interpretation. With this painting I wanted to go in a different direction than most stamps, which usually depict a pair on the water or in flight. I chose to paint three and "a half" ducks that are in the process of passing by. The duck that is cropped gives the flock a sense of movement and gives the viewer the sense that this is a fleeting glance.

This painting will be for sale following the competition in late May. If you are interested in making an offer you can contact peter@mathiosstudios.net.
My Website

The Bachelors 4" x 4" acrylic

SOLD
American wigeon used to be known as "baldpates" because their white forehead stripe gave them the appearance of a bald man. These three males, however, are not bald but swim peacefully through calm waters in full plumage resting up for the upcoming breeding season.
My Website

Snowy Plover 5" x 5" acrylic $245

This is the second in a series of daily paintings featuring a simplistic sandy background, which is prime habitat for the snowy plover.
My Website

Cardinal and Blossoms 9" x 12" acrylic

SOLD

A handsome male cardinal rests on an early spring apple branch.
My Website

Western Gull 5" x 5" acrylic on board $245

A western gull stand statuesque on a smooth and firm band of wet sand. The color scheme of this scene and the simplicity in the composition are the inspiration behind this painting.
My Website

Distant Wolf 5" x 7" acrylic on board

SOLD

A lone wolf traverses a wintry mountain meadow as late afternoon progresses into evening.

My Website

New Print Release - "South Platte Sunrise"

Image Size (unframed): 15" x 20"

Throughout the past year, the regular edition prints of South Platte Sunrise were used to raise money for upland bird habitat at Pheasants Forever banquets throughout the country. Now the remaining prints from the Artist Proof edition are available. The edition size is 50 prints and only 22 of those remain. To see more available prints, click here.

My Website

Caught 20"x16" acrylic on canvas

SOLD
This painting is being auctioned off this evening at a local Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation banquet and fundraiser. In this painting I focused on the look in the does eyes. She sees you and is very alert and is about to flee. The diagonal of the neck heightens the tension between the viewer and the deer. If you click on the image, a larger format reveals the detail in the deer.
My Website

Autumn Interlude 18" x 36" acrylic

SOLD
It has been a while since I have posted a painting because this large original took a long time to finish. A flock of graceful northern pintail circle low over this late autumn cattail marsh. Pintail are strong flyers that travel up to 2,000 miles during their migrations. This group is arriving at a beautiful spot to rest and possibly even winter. I really wanted to capture the intricacies of the wetland in this painting as well as give the viewer a sense of atmosphere.My Website

Mulies (Reworked) 10"x24" acrylic $2400

Revised Version

Original Version

I have had this painting of mule deer around my home for about six months wondering how I can improve it. It finally hit me that the orange light in the background wasn't natural in that it went across the painting in three distinct lines. So, what I did was create more of draw in the landscape and had the last rays of afternoon light touch the tips of the grasses. There is now more of an uphill angle. I also went back in and detailed the deer a bit more.

My Website

"The Challenger" 13x26 acrylic $3400

SOLD

This larger original painting is about the time of year when bull elk turn from friend to foe - the rut. Each autumn bull elk gather cows to breed and they need to defend their harems from other bulls who may want to steal away their herds. In this painting, the bull on the right has already moved his cows away as a large and quite capable challenger comes in to fight him. Right now these elk are at the peak of strength and health, but by the onset of winter after breeding, fighting and defending themselves, the rut will have depleted and exhausted these bulls.
My Website

"Great Horned Owl" 5x5 acrylic $245

A nesting great horned owl peers through the tree branches at you. Her watchful eyes are judging what might be a threat and what may not. She is well hidden and in most instances will be left alone. This particular owl was seen near the headquarters at Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in eastern Oregon. They are common everywhere though.
My Website

"Ruddy Ducks" 5x5 acrylic $245

Three ruddy ducks cruise through a reedy wetland. These ducks only turn their unique reddish color during the spring breeding season. I was inspired to create a subtle lighting to give the painting a more natural feeling.
My Website

Wigeon 8x10 acrylic $800

This painting of a group of wigeon coming in is a color study for a commissioned painting for the St. Clair Flats Waterfowler's Inc. (SCFWI) conservation group. The main objective of the SCFWI is to generate local dollars to benefit local conservation within the St. Clair Flats area located at the tip of Harsens Island on the northern edge of Lake St. Clair in Michigan. The area is also one of the largest fresh water deltas in the US and their goal is to maintain it's habitat for several generations to come.
My Website

"Pintail Skies" 20x24 acrylic on board

SOLD

Several times each year, I get commissioned to create a painting. Sometimes it is of a family pet, or a special scene of someone's children, but most of the time it's a painting of a favorite hunting spot with ducks coming in. Inspired by an earlier painting I did called The Next Five, this painting is exactly that and is a surprise gift for a surprise 40th birthday party. The painting features a flock of pintail coming into an Oklahoma wetland at daybreak. The focus of the painting was capturing the essence of the Oklahoma landscape. Early morning clouds offset the open skies where a flock of pintail have locked up their wings to sail in. The last of the Fall foliage clings to the trees as the marsh gets ready to surrender to winter.
My Website

"Winter Field - Geese" 13x18 acrylic

SOLD

A pair of Canada Geese walk through a flooded grass seed field. This is a common scene in the Willamette Valley as seven subspecies of these geese visit each fall and winter. This painting is about capturing the subtle reflections in the background water and exemplifying the beautiful colors and dramatic light of something that is seen everyday.
My Website

"Sentinels" 5x7 acrylic $265

Two sentinels watch over this grassy hill - a great oak tree and a great egret. Although the great egret is only temporary to this spot, it adds a nice tension in the painting. I recently saw this scene on a trip out to nearby Ankeny Hill National Wildlife Refuge and I couldn't wait to paint it because it evokes such a peaceful, solitary feeling.
My Website

Winter Junco 4"x4" acrylic $225

This is a painting of a junco roosting among some dormant trees. The emerging seed buds are the only sign of the coming spring.
My Website