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… )

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

My family and I joined the memberships of several societies this past month…I am very pleased to post…..

American Watercolor Society (AWS) - http://www.americanwatercolorsociety.com
The American Watercolor Society was formed in New York in 1866. The organization promotes the art of watercolor painting in America and holds international exhibitions.

Portrait Society of America (PSOA) - http://www.portraitsociety.org
The purpose of the Portrait Society is to foster and enhance an understanding of the practice, techniques and applications of traditional fine art portraiture.

Untamed Artists Network (UAN) - http://www.untamedartists.com
I am also very happy to be a core member of the Untamed Artists Network , an organization of artists who are drawn together by a common concern for wildlife. Many thanks to them for extending an invitation to join them in their efforts. The group is based in Australia.

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

 

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.

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

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 )

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

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 )

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

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…

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

 At the end of 2007, my Mom, Karen, sister, Bonnie, and I returned to the Artists For Conservation, an association/society of artists that is dedicated to conservation of nature.   The profile for my membership on the AFC foundation’s website has just gone "live", with my family’s soon to follow.

Artists for Conservation Foundation (AFC)
http://www.natureartists.com
"The Artists for Conservation Foundation (AFC) - formerly the Worldwide Nature Artists Group (WNAG) - is a non-profit, international organization dedicated to the celebration and preservation of the natural world. The Foundation represents the world’s leading collective of nature artists and an unparalleled pool of artistic talent focussed on nature. The organization’s mission is to support wildlife and habitat conservation, biodiversity, sustainability and environmental education through art that celebrates our natural heritage.  The Group is the most progressive and prestigious organization in the world of nature art and represents hundreds of millions of dollars in artwork."

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

I am very pleased to post that my Mom, Karen, sister, Bonnie, and myself have become members of two prestigious art societies from New York. The first has been in existence for nearly a century for American artists. The second has been supporting women artists for over one hundred years. I am very proud to be a part of these societies that have such a history of helping and supporting artists.

The Allied Artists of America (AAA)
http://www.alliedartistsofamerica.org
"Founded in New York City in the year 1914 to the present, the Allied Artists of America, Inc. will continue to achieve its goal of furthering the cause of contemporary American artists. Allied Artists of America, Inc. It is a non-profit National Art Society composed of artists & sculptors from the across the country. The offices and exhibition galleries are both located at the elegant historical landmark, The National Arts Club."

Catharine Lorillard Wolfe Art Club (CLWAC)
http://www.clwac.org
"A national organization to show and promote works by professional women artists, founded in 1896. The Catharine Lorillard Wolfe Art Club, CLWAC, has been supportive of women artists for over one hundred years. The club is very proud of the high standard of quality and respect that our members have in the art world."

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

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."

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

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.

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!