Artist & Painter Rebecca Latham’s Nature & Wildlife Art

This is a long-overdue post about the progress of my little chipmunk painting.

 

He’s coming along pretty well. I’m bringing out all of the textures of the plants covering the ground and pebbles…and of course the fur. The chipmunk is just about life sized in the painting. The original post about him is here. The piece will be 6" x 8" when it is completed.

Just a  quick notice…    On occasion, there has been some confusion about surfaces of miniature painting, how paint is applied or the surface itself.  I’ve posted a small article about surfaces and surface textures in miniature painting that  some may find informative and helpful. The article can be seen here.
Or, if you prefer, visit the article index here.

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.

This is a painting that I was requested to paint of two otters.  This is the beginnings of the fur texture being put into place with many fine, delicate strokes.  (…this is actually one of my favorite parts of a painting - the very beginning and seeing all of the textures begin to develop.)  I love to bring out the finest details in the faces of the animals (or focal points of my floral pieces) with the lightest strokes.

In miniature painting, some artists use such fine strokes that they are only seen by magnifying glass, while others use more visible strokes in their pieces that are best not viewed under magnification and carry well from a distance, as observed by a Swiss miniature art expert.

Here are some snapshots of the gallery during the opening event for the Christmas Miniature Show (www.whistlepik.com).  I was very pleased that all of my family’s paintings in the show were sold out when we arrived. The exhibit space is set up very beautifully, and as you can see there was quite a crowd.  For those who haven’t been to the Whistle Pik Galleries before, the gallery also has a courtyard featuring a collection of large bronzes (as well as a fountain and gardens), and a second gallery building with some of the larger works and the gallery’s offices (which also have beautiful collections of artwork.)

Though I don’t paint in that style, I really enjoy the free Western style of painting….a style of painting that is represented well in the gallery.  I met a very nice artist, Qiang Huang, and his wife.  He has some of his lovely still life works on his blog…his originals were very nice.  I also enjoyed seeing some artwork from Africa, a collection of small etchings, and a beautiful large piece by Norman Rockwell.

It is very inspiring for an artist to go see beautiful artwork, showspaces, and different environments – not to mention meeting so many interesting artists and clients.  Many thanks to Tim Taylor from Whistle Pik and all of the gallery’s personnel for their wonderful hospitality.  ….and for the lovely artist’s party as well! (…which was also amazing….and delicious. )

My family and I will be supplying the gallery with more work for exhibition in the gallery regularly.  I am hoping to complete more pieces for them soon…

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.

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)

I am pleased to post that this painting, "Symphony of Light", watercolor on ivorine, was awarded a top honor at the Miniature Art Society of Florida’s 33rd annual exhibition - "Best Work by a Young Artist" (Best of Show for artists 35 or younger).  This is the second time I have been given this award, which I am very honored for especially being that I am still a ‘20 something’.

It is quite an honor to have been given such high awards at both the MASF and MPSGS this year.  Many thanks to both societies.  As our elite miniature art exhibitions in the United States, each of them are surpassed by none.  I greatly appreciate all that they do to preserve miniature art and it’s roots.

(Also, I want to post a congratulations to my sister, Bonnie, for her award of "Best Animal" at the CPA International Miniature Exhibition in PA with her beautiful Asian leopard portrait.  I am very proud of her. )

I just received notice that this painting, "Calm - Great Egret" (watercolor on Ivorine), was awarded ‘Second in Show’, the ‘Manny Sullivan Award for Excellence’, at the 74th Miniature Painters Sculptors & Gravers Exhibit of Washington, DC (the oldest miniature art society in America - http://www.mpsgs.org/).  I am honored to have received this award for the second year in a row. 

My watercolors "Polar Ambiance" and "Timberwolf" were chosen for first place in ‘Watermedia’ and first place in ‘Birds and Animals’ respectively.  I am very honored to have my work chosen for these awards this year.  Many thanks to the judge, Carol Lee Thompson, and those of the administration of the MPSGS.

The exhibit of 699 miniature works of art will run  Nov. 19 - Dec. 29, 2007 at the Strathmore Mansion (in North Bethesda, MD).  This year’s exhibition represents artists from 38 US states and 12 foreign countries.

My sister, Bonnie, was able to put a miniature painting in the exhibit this year also - her work was awarded as well.