Finch & Blossoms Miniature Painting - Watercolor

 

This is a new miniature I painted that went to England for a miniature art exhibit. It is a finch with apple blossoms and is a little smaller than 4x6. My Dad has some awesome flowering fruit trees that I love ...which inspired this painting... :) (I have 'spring fever' -I'm really wishing for spring around here to look like spring. ;) :p ) == The little bird isn't life-sized...which I really would have loved to paint him (I love painting things life-sized and the challenge to make them look like they will walk off my artboard ;) ). The piece was painted to be shown in this exhibition which has an image area limit, and he had to be arranged compositionally in the painting with the flowers...this was the most pleasing arrangement that I came up with. :) == I really would like to paint the concept as a 6x8 or a little larger sized miniature so that I would have more space for everything... (Maybe the next painting... :D lol!)

This is a new miniature I painted that went to England for a miniature art exhibit. It is a finch with apple blossoms and is a little smaller than 4×6. My Dad has some awesome flowering fruit trees that I love …which inspired this painting… :) (I have ’spring fever’ -I’m really wishing for spring around here to look like spring. ;) :p )

The little bird isn’t life-sized…which I really would have loved to paint him (I love painting things life-sized and the challenge to make them look like they will walk off my artboard ;) ). The piece was painted to be shown in this exhibition which has an image area limit, and he had to be arranged compositionally in the painting with the flowers…this was the most pleasing arrangement that I came up with. :)

I really would like to paint the concept as a 6×8 or a little larger sized miniature so that I would have more space for everything… (Maybe the next painting… :D lol!)

Iris Sketch - New Spring Painting

 

It is finally starting to feel like spring - it is warm enough to open the windows of my studio to listen to the birds sing during the day while I paint. :D

Things haven’t ‘greened up’ quite yet, but I am anxiously waiting for them to sprout. :D This is a sketch of an iris from my garden (a blossom from last year). I felt like painting something warm and glowing that reminded me of early summer…

NatureWorks 2008, Galleries, & Wildlife Art…

NatureWorks Wildlife Art Show & Sale 2008 - Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA

First of all, I need to thank everyone that came to the NatureWorks show in Tulsa this past weekend - It was fabulous to meet all of you…and see familiar faces again! My family and I really appreciate your support for us and our work. We really love what we do and are so pleased to see that others enjoy our finished pieces and the wildlife that is so meaningful to us as well! :D Thanks for making the 2008 NatureWorks one of our best showings in Tulsa! :D We look forward to seeing everyone again next year! ( www.natureworks.org )

Also…. Some gallery news - For those who may not know, we are now represented full time in Texas by Whistle Pik Galleries ( www.whistlepik.com ). Their gallery is one of the most beautiful show places that I have seen and the people who run the gallery are superb.

Our gallery in Montana is expanding ( www.moosehorngallery.com ) - they will soon be opening another Moosehorn Gallery in Washington state. The Montana gallery will also be having a large event this summer that we will be attending in Big Sky with a new collection of artwork. …so we will be busy at our easels for a while. ;)

Lastly (..but definitely not least…) An article about our family, "A 24/7 Family Affair", is featured in this month’s issue of Wildlife Art Magazine. Thanks to Wildlife Art and our author, Fran Howard! ( www.wildlifeartmag.com )

Nature in Miniature - Flemish Miniature Paintings

I thought that I would post a little of my inspiration. :D

Traditional Miniature Painting - Watercolor on Vellum - Dragonfly - circa 1600

Traditional Miniature Painting - Watercolor on Vellum - Butterfly - circa 1600I do quite a bit of digging around researching earlier miniature art through various different sources.  The art of miniature painting has so many different facets to it and connected to so many cultures.  Seeing so much that has come before me is very inspiring in my own painting.

These are a few Flemish miniature paintings of nature subjects from around 1600.  They are stunningly intricate and delicate.  I find them absolutely beautiful and so inspiring.  They are painted in watercolors on vellum in much the same way that I paint my work. 

Traditional Miniature Painting - Watercolor on Vellum - Damselfly - circa 1600I think I find them particularly fascinating because my painting methods originated with my studies a number of years ago with a Flemish artist who also paints nature like this.  He had studied it in his native country.  It is rooted deeply in their culture.  …and continues today.

Miniature paintings, like these, show wildlife art being carefully depicted by artists who also shared a connection with nature 400 years ago. :D

Traditional Miniature Painting - Watercolor on Vellum - circa 1600

Decoys & Wildlife Show - Frenchtown, NJ

Thanks to Ron Kobli and everyone from the Decoys & Wildlife Gallery in Frenchtown, NJ for such a nice show!  My family and I were pleased to meet many of of our collectors from the area. :D If you happen to be near Frenchtown, be sure to drop by the gallery to browse the paintings and art.  They still have quite a collection of our pieces for the holiday season.

Thanks to Ron Kobli and everyone from the Decoys & Wildlife Gallery in Frenchtown, NJ for such a nice show!  My family and I were pleased to meet many of our collectors from the area. :D

If you happen to be near Frenchtown, be sure to drop by the gallery to browse the paintings and art.  They still have quite a collection of our pieces for the holiday season - both smaller and larger pieces.  (www.decoyswildlife.com)

Thanks to Ron Kobli and everyone from the Decoys & Wildlife Gallery in Frenchtown, NJ for such a nice show!  My family and I were pleased to meet many of of our collectors from the area. :D If you happen to be near Frenchtown, be sure to drop by the gallery to browse the paintings and art.  They still have quite a collection of our pieces for the holiday season.

Thanks to Ron Kobli and everyone from the Decoys & Wildlife Gallery in Frenchtown, NJ for such a nice show!  My family and I were pleased to meet many of of our collectors from the area. :D If you happen to be near Frenchtown, be sure to drop by the gallery to browse the paintings and art.  They still have quite a collection of our pieces for the holiday season.

Miniature Art Society Exhibitons in Britain

This is one of my new pieces that will be in the RMS (Royal Miniature Society of Painters, Sculptors, & Gravers) exhibition at the Mall Galleries in London this fall.  Please see the Society’s website for information about attending the exhibit - royal-miniature-society.org.uk  The RMS is the oldest and most respected miniature art society in the world.

I had a number of paintings shown in the Hilliard Society of Miniaturists exhibition in Wells, Somerset as well a little earlier this year.  Also, thanks to the HS (and the book publisher :) ) for the invitation of inclusion in the next edition of the British publication, "Who’s Who in Art" Rebecca Latham | Wildlife Artist


Latham Studios | Wildlife Artists

 

Blooming Cactus Miniature Painting

This is a miniature painting of a blooming cactus 3-3/4" x 4-3/4" that I just completed titled "Cactus Jewel".  It’s a pretty intricate and involved painting.  It is painted on ivorine, a simulated ivory surface - Ivory is a traditional ground and popular for miniature artists to paint on since the 1700’s - of course, due to conservation reasons, has now been replaced with the synthetic version (which, though synthetic, has been used by miniature artists for over a century). 

I have been delighted with my experience with painting on ivorine. :D (…and am planning to paint more of them.)  Normally I have painted watercolor on board, which would be similar to traditional surfaces that were used also, though a little more modern.

The experiments with this surface have been due to one of my friend’s, Joan Willies, influence.  She has a tremendous knowledge of miniature art as well as the history and techniques, and a little of it is rubbing off on me.   She also has a beautiful website of her miniature paintings hereRebecca Latham | Wildlife Artist

Latham Studios | Wildlife Art

Bennington Center for the Arts - Small Works Show

This painting, "Summer Blossoms - Queen Butterfly", and "Sunrise - Screech Owl" will be a part of the Bennington Center for the Arts "Small Works Show" that will be on display June 9th - December 23rd, 2007.  Thanks to the Bennington Center for the Arts for making this exhibition possible! :D For more information about the arts center, visit www.benningtoncenterforthearts.org

This painting, "Summer Blossoms - Queen Butterfly", and "Sunrise - Screech Owl" will be a part of the Bennington Center for the Arts "Small Works Show" that will be on display June 9th - December 23rd, 2007 in Bennington, Vermont.  Thanks to the Bennington Center for the Arts for making this exhibition possible! :D For more information about the arts center, visit www.benningtoncenterforthearts.org

Nature References

Some people find it interesting that I (or other artists in my family) will bring twigs, sticks, grass, rocks, leaves, logs, etc. into the studio to paint from life - so I thought that some of you may like to see the log, in my studio, for the fox paintings that I'm working on (it, and the other sections of trees that I gathered for this project, are being returned to the "wild" when the paintings are completed) ;) .

Some people find it interesting that I (or other artists in my family) will bring twigs, sticks, grass, rocks, leaves, logs, etc. into the studio to paint from life - so I thought that some of you may like to see the log that’s in my studio right now for the fox paintings that I’m working on.  It, and the other sections of trees that I gathered for this project, are being returned to the "wild" when the paintings are completed. ;)Rebecca Latham | Wildlife Artist

Latham Studios | Wildlife Artists

Commission Progress - Red Fox Kit Miniature Watercolors

This is the progress of the three fox kit miniature paintings in my studio right now.  I have a lot of the detail on the foxes themselves painted in already, though I'm not completely finished with them yet.  For the commission, I am fortunate to have no set deadline, so I am able to set these pieces in my studio and study them and determine how to proceed to completion. (Though, I am eager to see them proceed as are a number of my blog visitors.)  I am not quite sure how I would like to complete the logs in two of the paintings - what lichens or mosses to add, etc.  I have done some research for the paintings recently during a short research trip with my family (to be posted soon) and may also bring some of the local forest habitat into my studio for reference to paint from life.

This is the progress of the three fox kit miniature paintings in my studio right now.  I have a lot of the detail on the foxes themselves painted in already, though I'm not completely finished with them yet.  For the commission, I am fortunate to have no set deadline, so I am able to set these pieces in my studio and study them and determine how to proceed to completion. (Though, I am eager to see them proceed as are a number of my blog visitors.)  I am not quite sure how I would like to complete the logs in two of the paintings - what lichens or mosses to add, etc.  I have done some research for the paintings recently during a short research trip with my family (to be posted soon) and may also bring some of the local forest habitat into my studio for reference to paint from life.

This is the progress of the three fox kit miniature paintings in my studio right now.  I have a lot of the detail on the foxes themselves painted in already, though I'm not completely finished with them yet.  For the commission, I am fortunate to have no set deadline, so I am able to set these pieces in my studio and study them and determine how to proceed to completion. (Though, I am eager to see them proceed as are a number of my blog visitors.)  I am not quite sure how I would like to complete the logs in two of the paintings - what lichens or mosses to add, etc.  I have done some research for the paintings recently during a short research trip with my family (to be posted soon) and may also bring some of the local forest habitat into my studio for reference to paint from life.

This is the progress of the three fox kit miniature paintings in my studio right now.  I have a lot of the detail on the foxes themselves painted in already, though I’m not completely finished with them yet.  For the commission, I am fortunate to have no set deadline, so I am able to set these pieces in my studio and study them and determine how to proceed to completion. (Though, I am eager to see them proceed as are a number of my blog visitors.)  I am not quite sure how I would like to complete the logs in two of the paintings - what lichens or mosses to add, etc.  I have done some research for the paintings recently during a short research trip with my family (to be posted soon) and may also bring some of the local forest habitat into my studio for reference to paint from life. Rebecca Latham | Wildlife Artist

Latham Studios | Wildlife Art

Sketch for Lupine Miniature

This is the sketch of a blooming lupine that I made for a new miniature painting.  I started this piece to work on during our show this past weekend at the Carpenter Nature Center.  The flowers are from one of my trips to the Grand Teton National Park to study the wildlife and plants (and Tetons :D ).  There were so many different wildflowers blooming during that trip, the landscape didn't seem real - it was so beautiful! :D

This is the sketch of a blooming lupine that I made for a new miniature painting.  I started this piece to work on during our show this past weekend at the Carpenter Nature Center. 

The flowers are from one of my trips to the Grand Teton National Park to study the wildlife and plants (and Tetons :D ).  There were so many different wildflowers blooming during that trip, the landscape didn’t seem real - it was so beautiful! :D Rebecca Latham | Nature Artist

Latham Studios | Wildlife Artists

Ruby Throated Hummingbird & Columbine Miniature

This is an image of the completed painting of the ruby throated hummingbird miniature painting that I just completed.  The sketch can be found in this post.

This is an image of the ruby throated hummingbird miniature painting that I just completed.  The sketch can be found in this post. Rebecca Latham | Wildlife Artist

Latham Studios | Wildlife Art

Turtle Miniature Watercolor Painting

This is a new painting that I'm working on.  13 turtles on a log and reflections of them in the water.  This piece is pretty intricate, but I thought that I should challenge myself. ;)  I saw these turtles in Oklahoma.  They all seemed to be competing for space on the log to sun themselves in the early afternoon sunlight - as you can see, some of them did not get the prime locations.  I think that the title for this painting will be

 

This is a new painting that I’m working on. 13 turtles on a log and reflections of them in the water. This piece is pretty intricate, but I thought that I should challenge myself. ;) I saw these turtles in Oklahoma. They all were competing for space on the log to sun themselves in the warmth of the early afternoon sunlight - as you can see, some of them did not get the prime locations. I think that the title for this painting will be "Turtle Jam". Rebecca Latham | Wildlife Artist

 

Latham Studios | Wildlife Art

El Dorado Fine Art Gallery’s 26th Annual Miniature Show

I am very pleased to post that "Garden Irises" will be a part of this year's "26th Annual Juried Miniatures Art Show" at the El Dorado Fine Art Gallery in Colorado Springs, Colorado.  The show will run from April 29th to May 21st at the gallery and will feature many miniature paintings by artists from around the United States as well as foreign artists' work.  They put on a very nice exhibit of miniature art.  I am very happy to be a part of this year's event. :D

I am very pleased to post that "Garden Irises" will be a part of this year’s "26th Annual Juried Miniatures Art Show" at the El Dorado Fine Art Gallery in Colorado Springs, Colorado. 

The show will run from April 29th to May 21st at the gallery and will feature many miniature paintings by artists from around the United States as well as foreign artists’ work.  They put on a very nice exhibit of miniature art.  I am very happy to be a part of this year’s event. :D

For more information about the gallery and the miniature art show, please visit their website: http://www.eldoradogallery.net/ 

Snowy Egret Sketch

This is a sketch of a snowy egret that was fishing a little area between the boulders on the beach for a little lunch in the Daytona Beach/New Smyrna Beach area of Florida.  Some of my friends put up with me and my sister chasing all of the shorebirds down the beach with cameras. :D

 

This is a sketch of a snowy egret that was fishing a little area between the boulders on the beach for a little lunch in the Daytona Beach/New Smyrna Beach area of Florida. Some of my friends put up with me and my sister chasing all of the shorebirds down the beach with cameras. :D Rebecca Latham | Wildlife Artist

 

Latham Studios | Wildlife Artists

Hummingbird Miniature Watercolor Progress….

This is the progress on my little hummingbird miniature watercolor that I started on the other day.  It's starting to take shape.  I think it will turn out well.

This is the progress on my little hummingbird miniature watercolor that I started on the other day.  It’s starting to take shape.  I think it will turn out well. :D Rebecca Latham | Wildlife Art
Latham Studios | Wildlife Artists

Hummingbird Minaiture Painting

I gave myself a little treat today - I started a new painting, though it is one of those pieces that I have to do.  Getting started on a new piece is always refreshing.  I think it's because there are so many things that can be done with a new painting.  It fills your mind with all of the creative ideas and possibilities.  This is a ruby throated hummingbird with wild columbine - the design sketch for the new miniature watercolor.

I gave myself a little treat today - I started a new painting, though it is one of those pieces that I have to do.  Getting started on a new piece is always refreshing.  I think it’s because there are so many things that can be done with a new painting.  It fills your mind with all of the creative ideas and possibilities.  This is a ruby throated hummingbird with wild columbine - the design sketch for the new miniature watercolor.  Rebecca Latham | Wildlife Artist

Latham Studios | Wildlife Artists