Artist & Painter Rebecca Latham’s Nature & Wildlife Art

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… lol!)

This is the completed painting of the black leopard, titled "Intimidation - Black Leopard" (5" x 7"). My object for this painting was to capture the intense gaze and the action expressed in in the cat’s position - a feeling that he may lunge at any moment.

As mentioned earlier, I tried to keep the subtle qualities of the tones and such adding the contrast of the cat’s strength and focus and delicacy. The precious metals (24kt shell gold/sterling silver) were added to the eyes and sheen of the fur and other area that would add an extra glow. As in all of my work, I am working for realism and the honed look of refined miniature painting, so the touches of these illuminations (as always) are very soft so not to be gaudy or have a glaring tinsel look to them - only subtle and elegant enhancement.

You can see the beginning of the painting posted here from back in December and further progress here. The original was sold in February at a gallery exhibition.

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! Thanks for making the 2008 NatureWorks one of our best showings in Tulsa! 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 )

This is a photo slide show of the MASF exhibition in Largo, Florida (where one of my paintings was awarded the Best Work by a Young Artist Award). There really was a variety of work there. The newly elected president of the MASF was there at the show, whom I met for the first time - he told me that the collection of paintings that I had in the show sold out. (I was also told a little bit about some of my newest collectors…

I was very pleased to attend the exhibition with Joan Willies RMS (originally from the UK, an accomplished miniature artist and author that I met the first year I entered the MASF exhibition) and the workshop of artists that she brought to the exhibit.

Joan was hosting a workshop, teaching miniature art, at her studio in Florida. There were students who flew in from different parts of the US for her course that week. …and being in Florida already, of course I HAD to go see her! (She’s a sweetheart, who could resist!) …as anyone who has had the experience knows, lunch with a workshop of artists is completely unforgettable!! Too much fun! …and everyone was (and is) so sweet!! I was pleasantly surprised to see familiar faces, too. The "art chats" were fabulous!! (Thanks so much, Joan!! )

These are a few more photos from Florida…

I am very pleased to announce that my Mom, Karen, and I have just been accepted into the International Guild of Realism (IGOR).  I was encouraged to participate in the society by a friend I met online that is an existing member who drops by my blog occasionally, artist Cindy Haase (  http://cynhaase.blogspot.com/  beautiful colored pencils…definitely worth the click.. ).

International Guild of Realism
http://www.realismguild.com
"Our mission is to advance realism in fine art through museum exhibitions, art gallery shows, workshops, education programs, marketing support and Internet exposure.

For us, “realism” ranges from classical realism (based upon the traditional, academic-style painting techniques) to contemporary realism (where cutting edge techniques and subject matter are used to comment on today’s world). Trompe l’oeil, photorealism, surrealism, and super-realism are some of the genres included within the range of realism choices for modern artists, as well.

The International Guild of Realism was founded by a group of leading professional realism artists from around the globe in 2002 with four goals:

• Recognizing the best realists working today
• Creating exhibition opportunities
• Providing technical and promotional support
• To offer a bridge between art collectors and the highest quality realist art, created by our members

It’s all based upon the proven belief that the more art lovers of the world have access to high-quality realism, the greater the value these paintings will have. Value not just in monetary terms, but in appreciation, understanding and international attention.

For art collectors, we create juried exhibitions in museums and galleries that span as many aspects of realism as possible so that they can see the panorama of international work in this field in one show. For museums, we curate themed exhibitions that provide a snapshot of where realism is today. For fellow artists, we provide information about workshops conducted by members and magazine features about realism techniques so that the quality of the art form continues to improve around the world.

It’s all based upon one simple premise: The more realism artists succeed in the competitive art world, the greater the benefit to the art lovers of the world."

"The Courage of Integrity"
"The highest courage is to dare to be yourself in the face of adversity.  Choosing right over wrong, ethics over convenience, and truth over popularity…  these are the choices that measure your life.  Travel the path of integrity without looking back, for there is never a wrong time to do the right thing."

This is my painting that I mentioned on the antique ivory (perhaps it should be stated ‘prehistoric ivory’, rather ).  I chose to paint a timber wolf portrait.  This is the beginnings of the painting, of course.  Much more will be added to the piece before it is considered finished.  I am really having fun playing with this one.

This is the beginnings of the black leopard miniature painting with the initial rendering of the fur.  (The sketch post can be seen here.)  There is much more to do on the piece of course, but the feel of the fur texture is in place. 

I am eager to begin painting the soft subtle tones of color reflected in the fur and eyes - the contrast of the look of intensity of the cat and the delicate shades I will add in watercolor.

This is the beginnings of a drawing for another miniature watercolor piece I have in the works.  I was requested to paint a more aggressive pose of a black leopard as a smaller miniature, so this is a 5×7 of a leopard ready for an attack. 

The subject of the painting is a cat that, though he was in captivity, he was very intent on stalking my sister.  (Which was odd, because I am usually the one who is stalked. )  So…  it was a nice opportunity to gather some wonderful references of a very intense cat. He was absolutely beautiful.  I hope to do him justice in the painting.