The Elusive Blacktail Buck

I have in my possession an unfilled Western Oregon Buck Deer Tag. Deer tags in Western Oregon are very different than deer tags in most states - they are for one blacktail buck not having less than a forked antler. What is so different about that? The blacktail's habits (or lack thereof) and habitat make them very difficult to hunt. They spend their time in thick cover and are extremely elusive. On the other hand, whitetail deer are very habitual in their use of trails and mule deer often spend time in more open country. This season only has a week left after an upcoming one week hiatus and that final week is the beginning of the rut which should bring the bucks out a bit more. So far though, after hunting through thick wet cover, I have only seen does (pictured) and spikes. Maybe the last week will offer the opportunity at one of these elusive bucks.
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PS - The photos are a bit blurry because of the low light conditions...

Truman

Ahhh... Monday. I am working on a commissioned painting today of a clumber spaniel named Truman looking alert and playful in the snow. Here is a photo from the painting in it's earlier stages. There will be more to come on this piece. On another note, I am also beginning to get organized for a couple of upcoming shows that I will post about later this week.
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Getting Closer...

After a late night and a full day of painting, it is getting closer. The painting should be finished on time to ship it out tomorrow. Whew. Now, just one more night of fine tuning the details...

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A Pintail Day

The better part of today was spent on this painting of a pintail pair for the Nevada Duck Stamp. It actually needs to be mailed off by Thursday of this week so there are a couple of late nights in my near future. Right now the painting lacks the necessary detail of a duck stamp entry, but the image seems to be coming along as planned, which often isn't the case. When the painting is finished, I will post it...

http://www.mathiosstudios.net/

Procrastination

After much procrastination, I have started a new heron painting. Although the sketch was already drawn on the board, the vast amount of white was intimidating and was preventing me from starting. I have heard that procrastination stems from fear. Maybe it was the amount of work that I know this painting will require with all the necessary foliage and reflections. Who knows? But, now that it is started, I am excited about it. I also have a couple of other ideas that are brewing in my head including a painting of a fawn that I may start this weekend. The picture posted here has a bit of a glare on it so the true colors aren't showing through correctly, but the idea is there.

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Artist's Magazine Award

The Artist's Magazine recently selected the painting
"Reflections" as a finalist in their 24th Annual Art Competition. The winners and finalists will be announced in the upcoming December 2007 issue. "Reflections" is the same painting that was selected for this years Birds In Art exhibition.
http://www.mathiosstudios.net/

Tornado!

For as long as I can remember I have always wanted to see a tornado. Don't ask me why - it's some sort of sick fascination. I've even toyed with the idea of going on a 'storm chaser vacation' in the Midwest. Anyway, we don't get very many tornadoes on the West Coast and the ones we do get, thankfully, are very small. Last Thursday, while painting, I heard thunder roll over the house and looked out my window to see some dark clouds rotating a little bit. Having never seen such a rotation before, my blood started pumping faster but knew these clouds were far from being a tornado. However, I grabbed my camera and binoculars and jumped in the car regardless.The rotating continued at varying strengths as the storm moved towards the next town. I parked in a grass seed field and snapped a couple more pictures hoping a funnel would form out of these clouds when a bolt of lightning hit about 100yds from my car! Needless to say, thoughts like "What are the chances of a tornado forming in Oregon anyway?" went through my head, and seeing as my car was the highpoint amongst the grass seed fields of the Willamette Valley, I reluctantly headed home wondering if I was making a mistake. I reached home and told my wife about my experience thinking I had seen all of the excitement, but was I wrong! Here are the next morning's headlines:Ouch! Maybe next time....
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Wild Wings Fall Festival

It's Fall Festival time again! Each year in Lake City, Minnesota, Wild Wings puts on an original art showcase featuring their artists. This year I have four paintings being exhibited, which are below. If you get the chance, the show is well worth visiting. This October 6th & 7th there will be live animal exhibits, painting demonstrations, a poster signing, and a big barbeque dinner all set along the backdrop of beautiful Lake Pepin.

"Greenwing Reflections" 12"x24" Acrylic on Board

"Sunlit Sanctuary" 14"x18" Acrylic on Board

"Song Sparrow" 9"x12" Acrylic on Board

"Icy Ride - Hooded Mergansers" 13"x18" Acrylic on Board

http://www.mathiosstudios.net/

An Old Idea Turned New

Sometimes when I start a painting, something doesn't click and I end up painting over it with a new image. Well, recently, while digging through some old photographs, I came upon a few paintings that had been painted over. With some of them, I could see why, with others I was curious as to why, and with a couple I was downright mad at myself for doing so. Below is an example of a painting that I wiped out in it's very first stages about 10 years ago. I remember struggling with the lighting a bit but other than that I have no idea why. So, with this particular painting, I decided to try again and here is the result - "Evening Sprig" (above).

http://www.mathiosstudios.net/

First Pheasant!!

The past two weekends at E.E. Wilson, a local wildlife area, a youth-only pheasant hunt was held and I had the opportunity to go along with my nephew (pictured). The hunt was set up to where only the youth could carry a gun while the adults guided with the only requirement being hunters have a valid hunter safety card and all of the necessary licenses and tags. All morning we hiked around in perfect weather watching the dogs Cody, and the next weekend Maggie, work their magic flushing birds. My nephew had a blast (both literally and figuratively) and ended up bagging his first pheasant - a beautiful rooster! The following weekend he bagged two more. The hunts were a complete success.

An important note about hunting: Because so much revenue for wildlife conservation is generated directly from hunting licenses and other fees, taking kids hunting is vital to passing on the ages-old legacy. As a result, the more hunters that get involved, the healthier our environment and the wildlife populations therein will be. Hunters also have a passion for conservation as is noticeable in the hundreds of millions of dollars raised through organizations like Ducks Unlimited, Pheasants Forever, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Safari Club, and the numerous other conservation groups.
http://www.mathiosstudios.net/