Artist & Painter Rebecca Latham’s Nature & Wildlife Art

I’ve had some requests to post more of my sketches and works-in-progress on my blog…so here’s another painting that is sitting in the studio…

This is a work-in-progress - a barn owl portrait that will debut at th Moosehorn Gallery in Montana. They are having a large event this summer and (…if everything goes well on this piece… ) this will be one of my paintings in their summer show.

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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!)

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I was "Tagged" by one of my friends, Cindy Hasse (a colored pencil artist whom I’ve mentioned in my blog earlier..). So, now I am "it". From what I have been told, I am now (voluntarily) posting 5 things that may not be known about me and "tagging" 5 other bloggers.

Growing On Me

I love gardens. I don’t have too much extra time to be away from my easel, but I dabble just enough to get my hands dirty. I love growing herbs (and using them in my cooking ), flowers (of course!), and exotic or unusual plants….and a number of them keep me company in my studio.

Decorate Your Face

I got started painting by face painting (where you paint the designs on children’s faces …er, most of the time it was children… ). I was bored sitting at art fairs with my Mom’s paintings and drawings when I was 10 or so, and my parent’s had the genius to suggest that I try something constructive. I guess that was my first ‘job’. …though, initially I felt bad charging too much for them and wouldn’t go over .25¢ each.

Sounding Nice

When deciding on a vocation, I was originally going to be a professional vocalist…not an artist (…though the thought had crossed my mind in first grade ). I took courses at a musical college as well as private instruction. I even placed in a competition at the Minnesota State Fair and was a soprano in the 3M chorus. (I did, however, change my mind – my Mom was already painting and she helped immensely in getting me addicted to the visual arts. ) Members of my immediate and extended family (I have a HUGE extended family) are very arts, music, and creative writing oriented (both sides of my family). My grandfather built his own dulcimer to play. A bit of that rubbed off on me, I play(ed) the flute and piccolo. I was a part of a student’s band at a college here in the cities and also did numerous solo performances. When I was VERY little (um, 3) I performed piano solos for the school’s concerts in front of hundreds of people.

This Is Your Life

I really enjoy biographies when I can. Victor Frankel, Leonardo Da Vinci, and others are very inspiring to me and my work. Also, I am really very, very grateful to all of the amazing people who have touched my life with their knowledge and experience themselves (and not simply from the pages of a book ) ….Artists whom I’ve studied under and those with years of knowledge who have selflessly been mentors to me. What they have given me is priceless.

Dig for the Facts

I love researching things that interest me – today it is the history of my style of art and the wildlife and nature I picture in my pieces. When I was little (probably 10 or so), I was fascinated with Native American history and tried to learn all I could (I have some Native American heritage myself, so that didn’t hurt, either. ). My Mom encouraged me and bought all of the books she could from book sales for me to study. …I even taught my childhood friends to use the symbols and sign language…. I had learned enough at that age to be able to hold my own when meeting an artist who painted authentic symbolism into his works and discuss it. (..but don’t ask me to remember something from that period now… lol! )

Ok, enough about me - here are 5 other artists that I will list...

The first two are built-in (victims ) - My Mom & Sister’s blogs are http://www.lathamstudios.com/karensblog/blog and http://www.lathamstudios.com/bonniesblog/blog

3. These art Beautiful oil paintings by an artist I met at one of our gallery’s events (Whistle Pik Galleries) not too long ago - qiang-huang.blogspot.com. …just love them.

4. & 5.This is an artist I’ve studied with, Matthew Hillier. He obviously doesn’t need a lot of introduction – his beautiful paintings speak for themselves - http://thestudiofloor.blogspot.com/ (and this is his wife, Julia Rogers - juliarogers.blogspot.com ….quite talented, aren’t they. )

(Disclaimer - none of the artists on this list are under any obligation or pressure to post anything if they would rather not ….I’m just showing you off… )

Best,

Rebecca

“I think everybody should get rich and famous and do everything they ever dreamed of so they can see that it’s not the answer.”
- Jim Carrey

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I’m off on another trip - this time to a warmer place than Minnesota. We’re flying to do some much needed research for new paintings, meeting up with some artists we know, and receiving a grand tour of some refuge areas by our own personal naturalists (you know who you are ).  I will try to get some posts up about everything when we arrive….

(Yes, this is the only wildlife I’ve seen today….but more will come… )

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Sorry everyone, this isn’t an ‘art post’.

Many technical difficulties over several days …  Lathamstudios.com went down (including this blog) complete with my/our email accounts.  If you sent an email recently and haven’t received an answer to it, it may still be floating around in cyberspace - feel free to send another.  Thankfully, after a lengthy call to Paris (yes, Paris, France…thank Heaven for bilingual Frenchmen!!), many emails, and non-English webpages, everything is back to normal.  (er, knock on wood…)

Many thanks for your patience. I really appreciate all of the wonderful support and kind words from all of you - my subscribers and blog visitors.  You are just fabulous!!!!!!

– Rebecca

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"Polar Ambiance", Watercolor on Board
One of my paintings in the 2007 MPSGS Exhibition

For those stopping by who might be interested in the happenings on other art blogs on the net…  Katherine Tyrrell, British blogger and artist from ‘Making a Mark‘, reviewed the current MPSGS exhibition in Washington on her blog. (See her review by following this link.)

Earlier this year she also reviewed the RMS exhibition in the Mall Galleries in London - was nice to hear about the show I wasn’t able to go (I had 5 pieces in this year’s exhibition).  Thank you, Katherine.

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A quick note - ArtsWOM, a British blog for the arts sponsored by Sky Arts (Sky TV network), posted a very nice review of my artwork and blog as their "Showcase Pick" on June 4th - see it here.  A big "thank you" to them! 

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I went for a short walk the other day and saw an adult American bald eagle soaring overhead. It was soaring fairly low, which surprised me a little. There are quite a few of them that appear to be nearby residents and frequent the local area throughout the year. Their numbers seem to be growing, which is wonderful.

I believe the Bald Eagles are beginning to migrate down the Saint Croix and Mississippi rivers, as they always do this time of year. A trip to Wabasha during the migration is quite an experience. I could watch the bald eagles fish in Lake Pepin for hours, and often do when I’m able to make the trip. Sometimes they fly up to perch in the trees along the edges of the lake, letting us get a closer look at them. There are usually crowds of people and cars around the birds that have situated themselves so close to everyone.

During one migration a number of years ago, one of my birding friends spotted hundreds of bald eagles, with a strong pair of binoculars of course. I was able to see between 50 and 100, all of which were close enough to photograph or sketch. It was definitely an inspiring trip, though it was cold, as it usually seems to be during fall migration. Everyone is bundled up in layers and layers of clothing, and still chilled with numb faces and no feeling left in their fingers. The joys of birdwatching. As frozen as everyone is after an outing, no one regrets the trip.

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Here is the progress of my little rabbit painting.  I have been working on the miniature a little bit today and should have it completed soon.  :)  The painting size is 8" x 10". 

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I have been able to study and travel to many beautiful areas, and am very fortunate.  It is fantastic to have so many subjects to choose from. :)  Decisions, decisions.  I will post some of these new paintings that are being planned out in a bit. 

Aside from dreaming of new paintings and past outings and excursions, I have been making the final adjustments to my 11"x14" cougar painting, so I will be posting it on the blog soon.  :)  A photo of an earlier version of the color phase is in my online studio at the moment, for those who are interested.

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