Artist & Painter Rebecca Latham’s Nature & Wildlife Art

I just finished this trumpeter swan painting!  :)  This piece is on the larger side of painting sizes for me — I’m so pleased (and relieved, and thankful) to be painting these larger works at the speed I am.  Small pieces, of course, are nice as they progress so quickly, but there is such an accomplishment with a larger painting, I think anyway. 

The title of the painting is "Afternoon Sun - Trumpeter Swan" and the size is 16×20.  I will be sending this piece out to our gallery in Jackson Hole later this week for those interested in seeing the original painting.  (www.gallerieswestjacksonhole.com)  The painting is being used in some publications for our family’s exhibition at the gallery.

We observed this trumpeter swan earlier this year in Jackson while on a photoshoot in the nearby wildlife refuge.  This swan and it’s mate were so beautiful :) – they also cooperated with us very well in picture taking!  ;) 

This is a painting I painted earlier this year of a black bear cub.  I just realized I hadn’t posted it online yet and thought some of you may like to see it.  :)  It’s 8×10.

I just painted this piece last night (from start to finish).  I was very pleased with how quickly the painting fell together as not all paintings are so cooperative.

This painting featuring a red fox kit is for an exhibition at Trailside Galleries (www.trailsidegalleries.com) in Jackson Hole, Wyoming — August 1st - 31st, 2005.  The exhibition is a benefit for artist Paco Young who is recovering from lukemia (www.pacofriendsforlife.com).

Please visit the exhibition if you happen to be visiting Jackson Hole in August.

I just received a draft of the feature article about our family coming out in the next issue of InformArt Magazine –  www.informartmag.com.  I am so excited!!  She did a great job on it.  (Thanks Rose!)

This is a plein air painting I painted earlier this year of a grouping of birch trees near where we live.  I liked the warm colors of the bare branches.  The painting is about 5×8 inches and was painted in oils on canvas.

This is a Lynx and snow painting I am working on right now — "Glance Back - Lynx".  I’m not quite finished with a few parts of it — I’ll post a little better image of it when it’s completed.

This is one of my plein air paintings I painted earlier this spring — I thought some of my visitors might be interested in having a look at it.  :)  The painting was painted in oils on canvas and is about 5×8 inches.

I just finished this 8×10 iris painting titled "After Spring Showers".  The reference for the piece was taken from my garden after a rain shower. 

Updated–

Here is a detail view of one of the iris blossoms in the painting.

We had a nice photoshoot today.  It was a little rainy earlier, but the weather cleared later on.  We should have a lot of new material to work from.  Thanks to our friends for inviting us out to take pictures!! 

I just took a little break from painting to go outside and do a little sketching.  I decided to rough in some tomatoes in my sketchbook — I thought it was a little strange to be a wildlife artist and be sketching tomatoes, but I think I needed a break from my usual routine. 

I took a little break from my studio painting to go out and photograph some of the beautiful wildflowers that are growing right in our backyard. 

I don’t think I’ve seen so many butterflies in the area before!  I think it’s due to the popularity of butterfly gardening and so many organizations promoting natural land restoration in Minnesota and elsewhere.  I think it’s wonderful!! 

Here’s a link to the UKY site about butterflies and butterfly gardening.  Enjoy!!

"Love is like wildflowers; It’s often found in the most unlikely places." — Anonymous

Here is the scan of the Lynx painting I promised — "A Closer Look - Lynx".  The painting is 5×7.  I think It’s finished, but I may fuss with it a little bit more before it’s framed.

"Who dares to teach must never cease to learn." — John Cotton Dana

The weather has been so nice the past few days.  All of the backyard animals and birds are enjoying it.  Classic summer weather — breezy and sunny.  I think about how nice it would be to be a plein aire painter on days like this.

I have been going through some of our recent photoshoot references — picking out some subjects and habitats to paint.  I am planning to begin sketching a few of them at the end of this week, or perhaps early next week.

I am nearly finished with my Lynx miniature painting (5×7) I began in the car on route to Jackson Hole, Wyoming (last week).  I will try to post a photo of it tomorrow.

"You must be the change you wish to see in the world." — Mahatma Gandhi

I’m just about finished with the 16×20 fox painting (shown left).   It was requested by my wildlife gallery out in Frenchtown, New Jersey — Decoys & Wildlife.  They are planning to use it for their September "Show and Shoot" invitations (it will also be in the show).  I’m very honored to be chosen as this year’s artist to represent the gallery for the event.

I really liked painting this piece — despite the deadline.  The rich autumn colors of my palette were very exciting to work with.   I had never painted a fox in this large of a painting before.

"If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader." — John Quincy Adams

What an awesome experience!  I have so many great new references to work from!!  I was even stalked by a large male cougar, which in itself was a bit disturbing, but was also exciting to witness such behaviour first hand.  :)  (Many safety precautions were being observed and I was in no danger of actually being attacked). 

As you can see in the photo, there were also some new arrivals to study as well!!  This is truly the inspiration I use to paint.  All of these creatures are amazing and precious.  I see so many magical elements in them and their environment — I try to reflect that in my work.  I am so fortunate to be able to do what I do and experience so many wonderful things like this in the process.  (Not to mention all of the extraordinary people I’ve known & met along the way, my family included.  I would not be the painter or person I am today or have the opportunities I have without all of you.  You mean the world to me! )

I hope to start some new paintings from these references to include in my family’s exhibition this August and/or the "Fall Roundup" this September at Galleries West Fine Art in Jackson Hole, Wyoming (www.gallerieswestjacksonhole.com).

"If you see a friend without a smile; give him one of yours." — Proverb

I am so excited!!! :)  We will be shooting some new reference photos early tomorrow.  I love seeing animals face to face!  It seems magical to observe them in motion – they take my breath away!

We also had a get together with some wildlife/art friends this evening.  I had such a nice time! :)  It was also nice to have a short break from my easel.

"I would much rather have regrets about not doing what people said, than regretting not doing what my heart led me to and wondering what life had been like if I’d just been myself." — Brittany Renée