Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Birds in Art

The painting South Platte Sunrise has been selected for the upcoming Birds in Art exhibition at the Leigh Yawkee Woodson Art Museum. The opening festivities are planned for September 5th & 6th in Wausau, Wisconsin. This will be my fourth time exhibiting in this prestigious show. More information will be posted as the exhibition approaches.

Saturday, May 10, 2008

Greenwings Update

It has been a crazy month or so trying to balance commission work, print remarques, painting for two shows and traveling to Milwaukee. The above painting is for one of the shows. Some progress was made on the detail and the painting is getting closer to being finished. The ducks themselves need some work and keeping them looking like they are in the fog while subtly showing enough detail to define the species will be tricky. This painting is another in what is becoming a series of waterfowl paintings. Evening Sprig, South Platte Sunrise, and First Flight feel like the forefathers to this painting. I enjoy the landscape aspect with the ducks not being as prominent, but still showing that commitment to landing.
www.mathiosstudios.net

Friday, May 9, 2008

Greenwings (In Progress)

This is a painting in progress of some greenwing teal coming in on a foggy morning...
www.mathiosstudios.net

Tuesday, May 6, 2008

Ending Rain


After experimenting with this painting for the past couple of years, I have decided to leave it as a painting of ending rain. The patterns of the water are the painting and I didn't want to take away from that or change the focus in the piece. I have tightened up the water ringlets and finished it. The painting is about the peaceful play of water.

Tuesday, April 29, 2008

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

Friday, April 25, 2008

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

Thursday, April 24, 2008

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

Monday, April 21, 2008

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

Friday, April 4, 2008

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

Wednesday, April 2, 2008

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