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!)

A quick post about an event that will be showing some of my (and my family’s) paintings - an avian themed exhibition. The "It’s For The Birds" exhibition is being held at the Eugene H. and Dorothy Kleinpell Gallery in River Falls, Wisconsin. The opening reception is being held this Sunday (March 16th) from 2-4 pm. The University of Minnesota Raptor Center will be at the opening giving a presentation "All About Owls" at 2pm. The exhibit runs through April and has special events scheduled for the weekends during the show. ( Get directions )

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 )

My family and I went to the Birds in Art exhibit this past weekend in Wausau, Wisconsin - had a wonderful time.

My Mom’s painting "Fluff and Fold" was in the show.  (…very proud of her. )  During much of the exhibit, the artists are asked to stay near where their artwork is hung in the galleries, but I did escape a little bit to roam the exhibition.

Carl Brenders, as many of my blog visitors already know, is one of  the artists that I’ve had the opportunity to study with in the workshops I’ve taken in my training to be an artist.  Of all of the instructors I’ve had, he has influenced my style and approach to painting the most.  This weekend at the Birds in Art opening, Carl’s work was hanging just across from my Mom’s - so we chatted a bit with him during part of the events.  He went through his new book for us, page by page, discussing his pieces that are published in it in depth.

I have said this before, but I have had so much encouragement and support from many wonderful people.  I wouldn’t be the artist I am if they hadn’t taken the time.  I can’t put into words how much they have helped me. :D 

Mute Swan, 30in x 40in, watercolor

I have quite a schedule coming up if all that is planned comes through… 

We are now represented in Fredericksburg , TX at Whistle Pik Galleries and will be sending them more work (and larger paintings) to have in their gallery.  As in previous years, all three of us will have work in their annual Christmas Miniature show.  http://www.whistlepik.com/

Galleries West Fine Art, within minutes of the Grand Teton National Park, in Jackson Hole, WY is hosting a wildlife exhibition, “Wild Spirit: Interpretations of Wildlife”, August 10-24 in their newly expanded gallery.  A collection of my (and my family’s) new pieces will be shown there as well.  We will be painting in the gallery on the 14th & 15th for their annual “Fall Roundup” during the Jackson Fall Arts Festival (6th - 16th) in September.  http://gallerieswestjacksonhole.com/

Another gallery showing in beautiful Paradise Valley at the North entrance to Yellowstone National Park - Moose Horn Gallery in Livingston, MT also has a show for my family planned in September – we will be painting in the gallery on the 16th & 17th.  http://www.moosehorngallery.com/

There are a number of other exhibitions that are still being confirmed…so more updates soon….

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Black Leopard, 18in x 24in, watercolor

Parklane Gallery in Kirkland, Washington opens their "15th Annual Miniature Show" today - an international exhibit of miniatures.  The show will run May 8th to June 3rd, 2007. 

The painting in this post, a Sulphur Crested Cockatoo, is one of five of my miniature paintings are on display at the exhibit.  The other artists in my family are showing work in this exhibit also.  For more information please visit the gallery’s website: http://www.parklanegallery.com