Marsh Wren 4" x 4" acrylic $225

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On my way back from the show in Southern California last month, I had the opportunity to stop by Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge as I do almost everytime I drive down the I-5 corridor. During the different times of year there are different species of birds present and this time, in late March, the marsh wrens were singing and nest building. The singing has two purposes that can distinguished by the sound of the song. The first is to guard it's territory and the second is to attract a mate. This wren was guarding it's territory. Because they are small they can be hard to find among the reeds, but it's song allowed me to find it and study it.
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Songbird Series 4 - 8" x 8" acrylic on canvas $1600

Instead of posting the two remaining paintings in the series individually, I decided to show all four together. The challenge in creating these paintings has been knowing when to stop because normally my paintings are highly detailed and realistic. My goal for these was to keep them somewhat loose in order to stylize the series. Although these were fun and it is refreshing to try something new, I am looking forward to getting back to the easel to create realistic paintings once again!
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Chickadee 8" x 8" acrylic on canvas $450

The next painting in the contemporary songbird series is a chickadee...
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American Goldfinch 8" x 8" acrylic on canvas $450

This is the most recent painting in my contemporary series which features a looser painting style and the painted script of the species common name. This particular paintings is the first of four songbirds and features and handsome male American goldfinch sitting on an apple branch. The apple trees around the Willamette Valley have been in full bloom lately and I think all four paintings may feature these beautiful flowers.
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Pheasants Forever 6" x 8" (appx) acrylic on artist's conk

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This painting has been created on an artist's conk, which is a species of shelf mushroom that grow out of the sides of trees. The mushrooms are edible when still soft and the ancient Chinese thought their properties helped with sexual prowess and wisdom. They were nicknamed artist's conk because over time they harden and form a smooth surface on which artists can draw, burn, or in this case, paint an image. This painting was created for a Pheasants Forever fundraising auction and banquet and sold for $750. All monies from the sale of the artwork will benefit upland game bird habitat locally here in the Willamette Valley.

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Golden Waters 5" x 7" acrylic $265

A pair of male Barrow's Goldeneyes enjoy a warmly lit swim. These ducks are diving ducks and are common along central and eastern Oregon rivers during the winter months. This particular pair was seen at Smith Rocks State Park, a famous rock climbing destination. The Crooked River cuts through the park creating a beautiful habitat and the color in the water is actually the reflection of the cliffs above.
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Art Competition

My apologies for the lack of posts recently, but I have been out of town quite a bit the month. Paintings will be appearing again this week.

But for today I am posting about an art competition to join the Daily Painters website. More about the competition is posted at this link - click here. So, if you are an artist and interested in being a part of one of the most artistically vibrant communities on the world wide web get your entry ready and good luck! Entry deadline is May 12th...
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Elk 12" x 12" acrylic $950

Another in the series of square contemporary acrylic paintings... This one features a bull elk in an active position. The two symbols on the left margin are Native American. The top one means 'good prospect' and the bottom one is the symbol for happiness.
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Nesting Costa's 5"x5" acrylic

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An nesting female Costa's Hummingbird incubates her eggs. Her tiny nest, the size of a teacup, is camouflaged among the branches. The Costa's is common in the desert southwest which is where I saw this female. The background colors echo the colors of the desert landscape.
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Wood Duck 12" x 12" acrylic $950

Here is another in the series of contemporary wildlife paintings. This one portrays and handsome wood duck drake with his reflection. I have been traveling the past week and will continue to do so through next Tuesday. Along the way, I have gathered a ton of wildlife reference for many daily paintings and studio paintings and am very excited to get back "to the easel" (which is really a large drafting table).
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Great Blue 12" x 16" acrylic $2300

This painting is for a show in Paso Robles this weekend called the Cattlemen's Western Art Show. It depicts a mature great blue heron standing next to a wetland. This particular bird was seen in Newport Bay, OR as I was getting reference for Pacific Brant - a federal duck stamp species this year. Herons always are intriguing because of their size and striking plumage. The white feathers and the long dark feathers behind the head are in the process of growing out here. By mating season, they will be long and elegant and perfect to attract a mate.
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Common Loon 12" x 12" acrlic on wrapped canvas $950

Here is another contemporary painting depicting a common loon. This is the second in a series of paintings being done in this style. It is very freeing loosening up and I am enjoying the break from the tight realism that normally defines my work. I mentioned a quail would be next, but it needed more work so it will be posted soon.
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Northern Pintail 12" x 12" acrylic on wrapped canvas $950

This painting is somewhat of a departure from my normal realism. Although the pintail is realistically painted, the rest is somewhat abstracted. The inspiration to paint in this contemporary style came from a painting of an oak tree that a friend of mine bought and I thought that a contemporary painting with wildlife in it could be just as intriguing. I feel good about the results - so much so, in fact, that I am going to paint some more. (I've already finished a quail like this - look for it tomorrow).

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Blue Jay 5" x 7" acrylic

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This painting along with the previous cardinal painting are both commissions. Here, a blue jay gets ready to leap off of a whitetail shed that lays among fallen leaves and dead branches of the forest floor. The broken tine is perhaps the result of a battle that happened months ago during the rut. Antlers of a whitetail deer differ from those of a mule deer in that the tines of a whitetail branch off a single beam. The antlers of both mule deer and blacktail deer branch into seperate forks (most of the time).

If you would like to see a step-by-step progression of this painting - Click Here.

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Winter Cardinal 5" x 7" acrylic

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A handsome cardinal sits atop a snowbound pine bough. This painting originally did not have the branch in the upper righthand corner and in a sketch the design seemed fine without it. When I thought the painting was getting near completion though, that corner seemed very empty so it was painted in. The angle of the branch lends assistance to the directional gaze of the cardinal.

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In the Sage 4" x 4" acrylic $225

A lone coyote works hunts for rodents that may be hidden below the tapestry of sage. I focused on creating depth in this daily painting by adding the various aspects of the open landscape. The ribbon of water is the Lamar River in Yellowstone National Park.
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Bald Eagle 5" x 7" acrylic

A adult bald eagle rests on a tree branch while surveying the area around him for prey. Eagles are numerous in the Willamette Valley during the winter months and easy to see. However, most of them migrate north as Spring arrives so seeing them in the summer is a much tougher prospect. I painted this one among the exposed tangles of branches which are just as much a part of the composition as the eagle.

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Black-Capped Chickadees 12" x 16"

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A pair of black-capped chickadees rest on a branch exploding with Spring apple blossoms. Chickadees are common throughout the United States and are very recognizable by their "chickadee dee dee" call. They often intermingle with flocks of other small songbirds like nuthatches and kinglets.
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Waxwing 'n Berries 4"x4" acrylic

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This was my original study for the 2010 Texas Non-Game Stamp. I ended up not using it because it wouldn't have fit well in the dimensions the stamp required. I do like the overall idea of a cedar waxwing that has just picked a berry (their favorite food) so I brought this study to fruition in the form of a daily painting.
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Raven 4" x 4" acrylic

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This 4"x4" daily painting depicts a raven calling from it's roost under the branches of a lodgepole pine on an overcast day.
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Old Picket Fence 12" x 16" acrylic

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An Eastern Blue Jay rests on a grapevine that has taken over an old picket fence. Rain has just passed as the last remaining drops cling to the branches, which in turn cling to the fence. The blue jay is the perfect accent of color in this painting. The fence itself became the focus of the painting as I worked to make it rustic looking. Runs of rust out of the nails and the cracking of the wood help to convey the weathering of the wood.
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Bufflehead 5" x 7" acrylic

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This handsome drake bufflehead is being lit up by a touch of sunlight. This species of duck is a member of the family of diving ducks. They can swim completely submersed underwater while they feed on various crustaceans, insects and small fish and they are more likely to be found on open water. In a painting like this, more time is spent on the water itself to create various waves and movements that the duck would create.
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Autumn Pasture 10" x 8" acrylic

This painting is the second painting for American Miniatues, which takes place this Saturday at Settler's West Gallery in Tucson, AZ. Several horses and mules graze in the aftenoon autumn sun. They will soon be used for work and perhaps for packing into the backcountry, but for now they live the easy life.

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Dust Days 12" x 9" acrylic

An American bison rolls in a dusty wallow on a warm late summer day. They behave like this during the rut as well as to ward off pesty insects. Sometimes they will urinate in the wallow before rolling in it. Some biologists believe this is for scent reasons as dominant males square off against one another for a female. I saw this particular bison in Yellowstone National Park back in late August and several males were doing the same thing. This painting will be available at Settler's West Gallery for their annual American Miniatures show that will feature over 200 artists from around the country.

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"Backwater Wigeon" 2010 Texas Duck Stamp 13"x18" acrylic

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A pair of American wigeon drakes rest in a secluded backwater. Wigeon are usually found in smaller flocks and have been known to hang around diving ducks like scaup and canvasbacks to steal food they bring up from the bottom. They have soft and beautiful three syllable whistle that is very identifiable in the field.

The study for this painting (Wigeon Study #3) can be seen in an earlier post on this blog. This painting will be the image used on the 2010 Texas Migratory Gamebird Stamp. Prints and stamps will be available soon.
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"Cedar Waxwings" 2010 Texas Non-Game Stamp 9"x12" acrylic

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A pair of cedar waxwings rests on a branch by some berries. These birds often congregrate on trees in large flocks and will pick a tree clean. Even during nesting season they will congregate to feed. This image was painted to be the 2010 Texas Non-Game Stamp. Monies raised from the sale of the print will benefit wildlife conservation in the state of Texas, where many migratory birds winter. The print and stamp should be available by early April.
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Teal Reflections 12" x 24" (Nominated for Award)

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This painting has been nominated to be the 2011 Ducks Unlimited International Artist of the Year print. Voting is open to the public and takes place online from now until February 15th. There are some incredible paintings to choose from, and for a wildlife artist the award is one of the highest honors that can be attained. Proceeds from the sale of the prints will directly benefit wetland habitat throughout North America.
Vote Here

First Flight 24" x 18" acrylic

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The silence of the still morning is broken by the sound of wings slicing through the chilled predawn air as a group of committed ducks make their decent. This is my favorite time of the day when out on the marsh as its seems to be the most active for waterfowl and the day is ripe with anticipation. The original painting of First Flight has been sold, however there is a limited edition print available.
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Ace 5" x 5" acrylic

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Last week, I was contacted by a collector to create two paintings that will be used as thank you gifts. This black lab is the second painting of the two. The first was Walker and can be seen on the blog just below this painting. Art makes a fantastic gift as a thank you, for a birthday, for the holidays, or any other occasion and I have collaborated with many people through the years to create that perfect piece of artwork.
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Walker 5" x 5" acrylic

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This is a commissioned painting where the waves, seascape and hidden sun made for an interesting composisition with the boy playing in the sand.
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Wigeon Study #4 - 4" x 4" acrylic

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This is the last in the series of four. A flock of wigeon flies through the fog. In a painting like this, the two trickiest things are where to place the wigeon in the overall composition and making sure the values are right in order to make it look like they are flying on a foggy morning.
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Wigeon Study #3 - 4" x 4" acrylic

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This is number three in the series of four paintings that will be framed together as a set. This pair of drake wigeon went through several redos to get the composition right. I originally wanted to have a hen wigeon in the painting, but she blended in too much - no matter if she was swimming or standing. The white crests of the drake wigeon helps them to stand out. The background of the painting is similar to the background that I used in a recent pintail daily painting of two drakes. This type of habitat is one of my favorite to paint because it gives the work such a natural feel.
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Wigeon Study #2 - 4" x 4" acrylic

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This is the second painting in the series of four American wigeon paintings...

A pair swims through the rain and the floating autumn leaves.

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Wigeon Study #1 - 4" x 4" acrylic

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This is the first in a series four studies of wigeon that I am doing for a larger project. Over this past weekend, I participated in the Audubon Wild Arts Festival. On Sunday morning the show didn't start until 11am so I went out and did some fieldwork and got some great wigeon ideas. Three more are on the way!
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Approaching Storm 5" x 5" acrylic $245

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The late afternoon sun is losing the battle as the high clouds from a new weather front begin to obscure it's rays. I am a weather fanatic. I study weather websites, satellite imagery, and maps and love incorporating it into my paintings to give the viewer a sense of feeling the atmosphere.
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High Skies - Mallard 5" x 5" acrylic $245

A flock of mallard flies against a dramatic cloudy background. This painting was inspired by a scene I witnessed in Central Oregon last year. Wave after wave of mallard were landing in some wheat stubble. The dark sky illuminated the ducks as they circled a few times before landing.
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Teal Remarque 1" x 2" acrylic

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This is just about the size of the actual painting. It is another remarque done in the margin of one of my prints. This pair of teal was seen among a flock at William Finley National Wildlife Refuge in the Willamette Valley. They are fast, erratic flyers and among my favorite of all waterfowl to watch in flight. Often times, their wings can be heard slicing through the air (like a fighter jet - nno joke) before they are seen.
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Goose Remarque 1" x 3" acrylic

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This is a remarque - otherwise known as a small original painting that was done in the margin of one of my prints. Having a small painting done in the margin of a print increases it's value and collectibility. This particular painting is a group of three dusky canada geese - a threatened subspecies unique to the Willamette Valley. I used the white of the paper as a part of the overall composition and left the reflections to identify that the birds are standing in water. If you are interested in my prints and having a remarque painted feel free to check out this link...
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First Light - Bull Elk 30" x 20" acrylic

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A large bull elk has entered a meadow at first light as the cool air enables the animal's breath to be seen. I saw this bull on a recent trip to Yellowstone National Park and was really taken by the dramatic lighting as he cautiously entered into Gibbon Meadow. There were unseen wolves howling not too far away (a future painting) and that is what could have made him cautious. I am not posting a price quite yet, because I am not totally convinced that he is finished. So I am going to keep eyeing it for a few days, then make the decision. If you are interested in the painting feel free to contact me through my website.

Also, I have started to update my other blog quite a bit. It's called The Art of Peter Mathios and discusses events, shows work in progress, talks about travels and will have much more.