Artist & Painter Rebecca Latham’s Nature & Wildlife Art

 

Here is another painting (pictured in progress) in my studio. It’s a snowy egret that I was able to watch on the beach catching minnows in Florida earlier this year (see my ‘Bad Hair Day‘ post…). I started the miniature painting during the NatureWorks show in Tulsa…painting in my family’s booth. The painting has been accepted into the Bennington Center For The Arts’ Art of the Animal Kingdom Exhibition this summer.

 

The painting is titled "Illuminated" - I was struck by what seemed to be an internal glow of light as the bird was fishing. All of the fine feathers reflecting light seemed to ‘illuminate’ and glow… It seemed to shimmer…as did the little minnows that he pulled out of the ocean. …I had such a fabulous time watching him (and just enjoying the whole environment during my stay…thanks to my friends who put up with me running around to see everything and snapping photos… )

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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…

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Here are some other images from Florida for everyone to take a peek at. Many thanks to our friends for their help in getting the wildlife to cooperate… lol! Again, we were so fortunate to have such a wide variety of birds and such show up for us. (…even a pair of young raccoons fishing at sunset in Merritt Island! ) …so much material for new works!

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We have been so fortunate this reference trip that all of the wildlife has been cooperating with us so well. This is one more shot from the beach today.  I will post more soon…

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Just a couple more snapshots from today. I will try to post more tonight…

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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.

 

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I started a new owl painting. This piece is a barred owl and is a little larger than the last owl I painted. It is only a sketch in this post, but the color version of it is beginning to take shape on my easel and should be completed soon.

I really love painting all species owls, but Barred owls are one of my favorites. I have been able study quite a few of them in my visits around the country to various wildlife rehabilitation and education centers. I am always drawn to the dark eyes of the barred owl. They seem to be immediately captivating, and often appear to be black when they aren’t in direct sunlight.

There are very few owls in North America that have dark eyes. The Barn Owl, Flammulated Owl, Spotted Owl, and of course, the Barred Owl. Most of the owl species have the more common golden iris, that is also very striking in it’s own way.

Occasionally, I have been able to see the Barred Owl in the wild while on a nature hike. I was able to spot one during a day trip hike in the Everglades a few years ago, though the Barred Owls in Florida do look a bit different than our northern Minnesota variety, primarily smaller and thinner from my observations.

I have been able to listen to them fairly regularly here in Minnesota, though I haven’t been able to spot one of them in the wild yet. Quite often there are two of them calling to each other during the winter, courting.  See the comment post for a Barred Owl audio clip.  Enjoy!

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A tour of Merritt Island today.  Everything was just beautiful - and so many birds!! :)  I have been to this area before, but hadn’t been able to spend adequate time in the refuge for more in-depth study.  Truthfully, I would have liked to have spent a great deal more time than just today, but I do have to get back to the studio sometime to catch up on a few deadlines.

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A visit to Sea World for some oceanic reference and study.  I especially enjoyed seeing the polar bear exhibit where the water is kept at a specific temperature for the comfort of the bear - simulating it’s natural habitat.

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We had a bit of a behind the scenes tour today of the wildlife at Busch Gardens here in Florida.  All of their animals are so beautiful and well cared for — though, as nice as their enclosures may be, I do wish these animals didn’t have to be in captivity and were roaming free as nature intended. We were up early this morning as well to do some research of some of Florida’s resident wildlife.  I was just asked to paint some specific species from this area, so I am focusing my studies for that request at the moment.

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