Perched Cardinal 5" x 5" acrylic

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The third in the desert series... a perching cardinal, another common bird in Arizona and always exciting to see. This time of year the cardinals are feeding their fledglings who can now almost fend for themselves.
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Gambel's Quail 5" x 5" acrylic $245

As I am in the desert for a few days helping my dad recover from surgery, this is the second painting of species common to Tucson. This is a gambel's quail and he is regally posed on a rock with palo verde branches hanging from above. These quail are very common at my dad's house and it is great to look out the window while painting and have live reference material!
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Anna's Hummingbird 5" x 5" acrylic

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An Anna's hummingbird moves among some flowers. Their brilliant heads are a sure field identification marker. They are known for their remarkable dive displays that can happen from as high as 120 yds. They dive to within a half yard from their target and stop with a loud squeak to intimidate other hummingbirds in their territory and they can do it to people as well.
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Through the Narrows 18" x 24" acrylic

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This beautiful area is part of an island chain in the Queen Charlotte Strait where my family and I recently anchored for an evening after a day of fishing. The islands that dot this region are rugged and spectacular and I wanted to capture the essence of the area with one of it's main inhabitants - the bald eagle. After experimenting with several different bird positions (all in flight), this angle was decided on as it shows the eagle has just flown through the narrow passage between islands toward the viewer (an angle not often painted). The lichens and sea life on the rocks indicate the high tide line and adds a necessary splash of complimentary color. Unfortunately, as is normally the case, the camera didn't read all of the colors in the painting so I tried to fiddle with it a bit to better match the painting.

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Cascade 5" x 5" acrylic $245

I just returned from a trip to Vancouver Island, BC and while there was able to do some "plein air" painting (painting on site). This type of painting offers a challenge because the light and weather influences the landscape with constant change. Painting quickly is key! This painting was done in an anchorage known to locals as Cascade which offered us a break from the open water swells and wind waves. The area is part of a group of islands located in the mouth of the Queen Charlotte Strait outside of Port Hardy. We saw eagles, otters, deer, whales and dolphins here. If you are interested in watching wildlife or fishing for halibut and salmon in a spectacular setting you can visit http://www.silverfoxmarinecharters.com/ for more information.
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Harlequin 4" x 4" acrylic $225

A male harlequin swims and flaunts his decorative plumage in the choppy surf - their preferred habitat in the winter. During the summer these handsome ducks migrate to streams with rapids to rear their young. For some reason the camera is reading this water as blue, but in the actual painting there are subtle color changes...

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Coast Guard 5" x 5" acrylic $245

Among the islands of the Queen Charlotte Strait, bald eagles are common. In fact, they seem more numerous than gulls. The eagles roost and watch from their perches in the trees and when other birds find a food source on the open water the eagles fly out to feed in droves. Often there will be 20 to 30+ eagles feeding together. The coast lines are rugged up there and I enjoyed creating this landscape and the weather that is so normal to the area.
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Turnstones 'n Tattler 9" x 12" acrylic

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Two black turnstones and a wandering tattler forage among the rocks during a low tide. When the tides recede along the coast it is like the dinner table is set for birds and other land animals because a plethora of food that is normally submerged becomes exposed. I was inspired to create this painting by the subtle hues of the overcast day and how the water reflected the rocks. The wave in the background was added to enhance the coastal effect of the scene.

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Goldfinch and Snowbells 9" x 12" acrylic

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A handsome American goldfinch sits resplendently among some Japanese snowbells. The new leaves of this young tree are unfurling and it's spring flowers are starting to fall off their stems as they past their prime. This painting was commissioned to compliment my painting Cardinal and Blossoms. Both paintings represent different points of time during the spring.
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Red-Breasted Nuthatch 4" x 4" acrylic

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A male red-breasted nuthatch creeps down the side of an old tree. They seem to have no regard for what is up and what is down while foraging for food in bark crevices. These birds are common among flocks of feeding chickadees and will come to feeders in years that natural food supplies are low.

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White-Crowned Sparrow #2 4" x 4" acrylic

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This is the same individual white-crowned sparrow that I painted yesterday. He is on a different branch in a different position and as you can see he was very vocal. And, he was a very good model! White-crowned sparrows are common in most states during the winter and have been know to fly up to 2,600 miles during migration. In Oregon, they are common throughout the year and are one of the easiest sparrows to identify.
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White-Crowned Sparrow 4" x 4" acrylic $225

A white-crowned sparrow sings from a branch as he gets ready to fly. This is the first daily painting in a while as I have been traveling quite a bit the past couple of weeks including to the Oregon Coast where I saw this bird. I may paint him again in a different pose tomorrow. He was a very understanding model and offered many close views. I really like their stiking headgear which is where they get their name.
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Evening Wren 4" x 4" acrylic $225

A marsh wren, illuminated by the last rays of sun, takes a brief break on a cattail. She has been picking the dense cottony fluff to line her nest. Everything in the painting is a rich, warm green signifying the time of year.

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Eagle Study 4" x 4" acrylic $225

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An intimate study of an eagle calling. Bald eagles are fascinating birds and have a beautiful, majestic plumage. I don't think I could ever tire of painting them and seeing them is always a thrill!

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Hooded Mergansers 6" x 12" acrylic

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A trio of hooded mergansers swim on an unfrozen winter lake. I was taken by their striking plumage and the contrast the feathers created against the slate gray cold water. These ducks, which are the smallest of the three North American merganser species, feed by diving for small fish, frogs and mollusks.

This painting has been in progress for quite some time and I finally figured out how I wanted the finished painting to look. I had previously tried having some grasses and cattails coming out of the water in the foreground but it distracted the focus away from the ducks. Because hooded mergansers are common on wooded lakes, simple watery surroundings seemed appopriate. So, I enhanced the detail in the water and removed the cattails by painting washes over the entire image - a process that almost wiped out just about everything.

For more paintings in progress, you can visit my blog titled The Art of Peter Mathios as my recent post displays several others I am currently working on.
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First Light - Pintail 18" x 24" acrylic $5100

A flock of northern pintail turn towards you, committed to landing near by. The sun is rising and its beams struggle to illuminate the surrounding wetland through the morning fog. This was a familiar scene this past January as flocks of pintails flew throughout the day. Sometimes the flocks had birds numbering in the hundreds which was incredible to see considering pintail numbers have substantially decreased from their historical averages. This year, however, due to excellent conditions on their northern breeding grounds, their numbers increased making it possible for people to commonly see stunning scenes like this.
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Tuscan Landscape 34" x 68" acrylic

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This commissioned painting is the largest painting I have ever done and it was done in a different style - impressionism. Thick layers of paint were applied in a rapid fashion to capture the essence of the image without trying to get too carried away with the finer detail. For me the biggest challenge was knowing when to stop applying detail as the couple who commissioned the piece wanted the painting done 'loosely'. It was a great experience!

On a similar note, there is an auction going on for a fantastic cause - the St. Lukes Health Care Center. Proceeds from the auction will go to the St. Luke's Junior Auxilary, which supports the Womens Services and Pediatric Care units of St. Luke's Health Care Center. Money raised helps provides a wide range of services for women and children including obstetrical and gynecological care, immunizations, well-baby and well child check-ups and much more for those with nowhere to turn. St. Luke's Health Care Center is one of the only charity centers of its kind in the Bay Area.

There many great items for auction at this link including a 14" x 18" custom impressionistic painting of your subject choice. Auction Item Information and Bidding

Rufous Hummingbird 9" x 12" acrylic

SOLD This male rufous hummingbird is taking a brief rest from feeding on nectar. Rufous hummingbirds migrate further than any other hummingbird species spending their summers in the Pacific Northwest and their winters in Mexico. I actually saw this particular bird in Tucson, AZ. Perhaps he will be a summer visitor to my home in Oregon? Another interesting fact about rufous hummingbirds is that they are the most aggressive of the hummingbird species and will displace other hummingbirds. My Website

Columbia River Scaup 12" x 28" acrylic

This painting depicts a flock of greater scaup getting ready to land. There are several species of duck in the water including canvasbacks, a goldeneye, and a bufflehead. The inspiration for this piece came from a foggy, January morning on the Columbia River where wave after wave of scaup would land near our boat. After they would land, I could hear them milling around on the water and diving for their food. It was a constant sound almost like rushing water, then another wave would join them increasing the sound even more. It was spectacular to witness! To see the painting progress step-by-step you can click here to visit my other blog.

I'm not sure this painting is finished yet so it is currently not for sale. If you are interested in it, you can email me at peter@mathiosstudios.net.

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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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