Misty Ridge Blacktail

This is a ridgeline that my brother-in-law and I used to hunt regularly during archery season. When clouds would roll in off the Oregon Coast, the ridge would get socked in and everything seemed to get quieter. Although we never got a deer in this spot, it was our regular break spot after a somewhat steep hike. Although there would be deer sign everywhere, the coffee break would take priority. Unfortunately, this property was purchased and is no longer open to hunting and a paved road now leads to this ridge. This painting captures what it was.
www.mathiosstudios.net

Field & Stream Radio

I had the opportunity to be on Field & Stream Radio on April 5th to discuss the International Ducks Unlimited Artist of the Year award. Field & Stream Radio is the largest outdoor radio show in the world and reaches over 3 million listeners each week. It can also be heard on Armed Forces Radio. To hear the interview just click on Segment Two of the April 5th episode and I am the second guest.
www.mathiosstudios.net

Canada Goose Painting in Progress

This is a larger painting that measures 20"x30" and is currently in progress. There is still a lot of work to do on the trees and water and in the foreground there will more trees with some snow on them. The inspiration for this painting came from a photograph that a friend of mine took. When I saw it, I had to create a painting from it.
www.mathiosstudios.net

Back from Milwaukee

I'm back from Milwaukee, WI where I was signing the Ducks Unlimited prints at Classic Art Prints. Marie and her husband Guiseppi were fantastic hosts and treated artist George Lockwood and I to an authentic home cooked Sicilian meal that was absolutely amazing! I have started painting again after the trip and have progressed on the eagle some more. It is nearly finished. If you look back and forth between the last post and this one you can spot the subtle changes that have occured. And, I should say, that although subtle, they take a while as I am using small brushes and focusing on the detail.www.mathiosstudios.net

Painting in Progress - Bald Eagle

This painting is of an island in a chain off the British Columbia coast known as the Deserters. Although not finished yet, you get a sense of what the finished product will look like. The feet in particular are far from finished as are some other parts of the painting, which measures 14"x18" and is being completed in acrylic.
www.mathiosstudios.net

Wood Duck Nesting Boxes

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to tag along with Howard Meyer, a retired Oregon State professor, while he checked wood duck nesting boxes on and around his property south of Corvallis. All told, we checked around 20-25 nest boxes and we had some success. In one box was this female hooded merganser and in a couple of others were merganser eggs. The first wood duck eggs were also discovered in one box as the delicate whistles of the wood ducks could be heard out on the nearby water. It is a bit early for wood duck nesting, but Spring has begun in some ways!
www.mathiosstudios.net