Stuart's Wildlife Art Blog

Images from my Algonquin Park show.

2011-09-07T13:22:00.000-07:00

These are some shots from on set-up day at the Algonquin Park's Visitor Centre at km marker 43.

Algonquin Park Art Show - Tranquility Aug 26 to Sept 28, 2011

2011-08-16T09:58:00.000-07:00

Madly preparing for my Tranquility Art show in Algonquin Park - opening August 26 at the Visitor Centre at km marker 43.

There will be lots of new originals and prints available for purchase with 25 % of all proceeds going to the Friends of Algonquin Park.

Please come see the exhibition and at the same time enjoy Algonquin Park at one of the best viewing times for moose.

This is one of the new originals: "The Calling"

Barred Owlet at the Hope for Wildlife facility in Nova Scotia - Facebook Auction

2011-06-20T14:24:00.000-07:00

As you may know I have partnered with The Hope for Wildlife facility in Seaforth, Nova Scotia not too far from Halifax and Dartmouth. A couple of weeks ago a little Barred owlet arrived at the facility and "stole" everyone's heart.

I decided to do a drawing to help raise some funds and do a facebook auction for the original piece. The piece measures approximately 9 inches wide by 13 inches high and is done in graphite. Retail value for this piece would be $ 325.00.

The auction will start at $ 100.00 with all proceeds going to HFW and bidding will be in $ 10.00 increments. The auction will remain open until July 1st at midnight ( Eastern Standard Time ) and the highest bidder will receive the original artwork ready for framing once the winning bid amount is received by HFW. Bidding can take place on facebook at the Stuart Arnett - Wildlife Conservation Artist facebook page or directly via email at stuart@stuartarnett.com

Limited edition prints are available as well for $ 125.00 ( shipping included ) and 40 % or $ 50.00 will go to the HFW facility to help care for their animals and birds.

New Algonquin Park Artistic cartography piece now available.

2011-06-15T13:24:00.000-07:00

This is a new version of a popular original that I did some time ago however with the addition of my new Epson Stylus Pro 7900 giclee printer, I can now offer prints and prints/originals with a twist. Limited edition prints will be available along with the original of course and I will also be offering giclee prints with original watercolour additions to match your favourite canoe. Colours and canoe insignia can be included.

The original is done in graphite and Staedtler Marker on a topographical map of Algonquin Park. If the original is still available in August, it will be framed and exhibited in my "Tranquility" show to be held at the Algonquin Park's Visitor Centre between August 26th and September 28. Several "watercoloured giclees" will be available throughout the show as well.
So if you have canoed through Algonquin Park and and would like to "see" your canoe in this image, email with the particulars and we can see what we can do.

Week 3 of beekeeping - dealing with comb in the wrong location.

2011-06-13T17:28:00.000-07:00

Checked the bees on the weekend to see if they were building comb on the frames in the brood chamber and not on the feeder. The last time it was the Blue Hive that was building o the feeder. This time it was the purple hive. Unfortunately, I lost about two weeks of build time. When I lifted off the feeder to the Purple Hive there was a lot of comb attached to it and the Queen was crawling around on it and not in the Brood Chamber where she was suppose to be. It took a little bit of effort to get her back in the Chamber.

The Queen can be seen in the lower left corner of the picture. Unfortunately, there was some larvae already in this comb.

Once all the excess comb was scrapped off the feeder onto the top of the Brood Chamber frames, I carefully checked all of the comb looking for the Queen. I couldn't find the Queen so I kept an eye on the feeder and the Queen crawled out of the bottom of the feeder slot. I decided to use my bee brush and I gently brushed the Queen onto the top of the Brood Chamber and she quickly disappeared into the main frame system.

Once I knew the Queen was back where she should have been I gently placed the excess comb back in front of the entrance so that the bees could enter the hive. You can see them starting to crawl up the landing pad to the entrance.

You can see the bees lining up to get in the entrance. I came back after a couple of hours and most of the bees had gone back in the hive and the entrance set on the wider opening.

Will check again in 3 or 4 days.

Honey Bees and Pollinators

2011-06-10T12:26:00.000-07:00

We have decided to become new beekeepers for several reasons, the enjoyment of the hobby, they are fascinating creatures and they are declining in nature.

Pollinators are essential to our environment. The ecological service they provide is necessary for the reproduction of nearly 70 percent of the world’s flowering plants, including more than two-thirds of the world’s crop species. The United States alone grows more than one hundred crops that either need or benefit from pollinators, and the economic value of these native pollinators is estimated at $3 billion per year in the U.S. Beyond agriculture, pollinators are keystone species in most terrestrial ecosystems. Fruits and seeds derived from insect pollination are a major part of the diet of approximately 25 percent of all birds, and of mammals ranging from red-backed voles to grizzly bears. In many places, the essential service of pollination is at risk from habitat loss, pesticide use, and introduced diseases. ( ©Xerces Society )

Below are pictures of our two hives ( our initial start-up apiary ).

Red Knot Companion 2 - stage 3

2011-05-06T07:34:00.000-07:00

Here is the next stage of the drawing - almost finished!

Cooper's Hawk it is!

2011-05-06T06:26:00.000-07:00

I was able to get a few more photos of the Hawk and with the tail feathers in view, the female Cooper's Hawk is easily identifiable.

Red Knot Companion 2

2011-05-05T07:08:00.000-07:00

Here are the first two stages of the second companion piece that will go with the larger beach scene.

Red Tailed Hawk nest.

2011-05-04T10:30:00.000-07:00

I spotted this nest when we were out for a walk the other day ( actually the Hike for Hospice ) and I went back today to try and figure out who was at home. Check it out - I think it's a Red Tailed Hawk.

You can just see its beak and a bit of colour. The nest is situated quite high in a tree but fortunately beside a ravine so I am almost level with the nest - hopefully I'll be able to get some more photos before the new foliage completely hides the nest from view.

Final Step of first companion piece

2011-04-11T10:03:00.000-07:00

This is the final step for the first of two companion pieces. This series is to help bring attention to the endangered Red Knot. The Red Knot as mentioned is truly an amazing bird with its annual migratory flight, however it's population has dropped significantly due to overfishing of the Horseshoe Crab in the Delaware Bay area. The Red Knot stops at Delaware Bay on its route north to refuel on Horseshoe Crab eggs before it continues north to its Arctic breeding grounds. Without this vital source of food to re-energize, the Red Knot will not make the trip to the breeding grounds.

Step 3 of the Red Knot companion piece.

2011-04-08T12:45:00.000-07:00

Here is the third step - the eye has just been finished and now it's time to work on a bit of the beach sand.

Red Knot - an endangered Canadian shorebird

2011-04-07T11:47:00.000-07:00

Another new piece - this will become a "Companion" piece to a larger scene - this is a Red Knot - an endangered shorebird that breeds in the Canadian Arctic and winters on the southern most tip of Argentina. They stock up on Horseshoe Crab eggs in the Delaware Bay before returning to the Arctic making their annual roundtrip flight of 26,000 kms one of the longest of any bird species.

Below is the first step:

Here is a second step - a few hours later

Too Big to Hide - Step two

2011-04-01T11:31:00.000-07:00

Working from left to right since I'm right-handed I've started to fill in the back ground . The concept of this piece is to try to demonstrate the way that these beautiful animals can blend into their surroundings, however as hard as they try sometimes they just can't hide, primarily due to their sheer size.

Bull Moose can weigh up to 750 kgs or roughly 1500 lbs and their antlers can span 5 to 6 feet across. Moose are also extremely active foragers since a full grown adult needs to consume approximately 9500 calories per day to maintain it's weight.

Too Big to Hide

2011-03-07T10:06:00.000-08:00

Started a new piece last Friday and worked quite a bit on the Moose.

Overall the piece is smaller than what I have been working on - it will roughly be 8" X 20" when it is done. The moose is only 3" X 4" however there is probably about 5 hours of layering into it so far.

I'll start working on the main trees now and gradually fill in the background. This piece is from one of my favourite moose photos that I have taken.

Owl Woods on Amherst Island.

2011-02-24T18:24:00.000-08:00

Well there were no owls to be seen. I think it was a little too late with the warmer weather that we have been having lately and I'm afraid that perhaps the higher volume of visitors during the Family Day weekend may have scared some away. There were lots of pellets present but unfortunately no owls.

There were lots of Chickadees, Nuthatches and Downey Woodpeckers.

While I was there I also saw three Ring-Necked Pheasants ( one male and two female ) but they were too quick to photograph.

I thought since I was able to find any owls that I would list the wildlife that I saw while travelling to and from Amherst Island just to show how much wildlife is out there if you look for it ( even while you are driving).

Heading to Amherst Island:

Three Coyotes - between Prescott and Kingston.
One immature Bald Eagle or Golden Eagle - just west of Brockville.
Several Red Tail Hawks - along the 416 & the 401 corridors.

Returning Home:

Three Canada Geese that had decided to stay in Canada for the winter.
Fifty or so Herring Gulls - adults and various stages of juveniles.
Two White Tail Deer - both does - along County Road 4 to Millhaven
One Pileated Woodpecker - north on 416.

Maybe next year I`ll see some owls too!

Amherst Island - The Owl Woods

2011-02-23T10:40:00.001-08:00

I'm heading to Amherst Island tomorrow which is just west and south of Kingston. Amherst Island is becoming quite famous for it's owls.

Hopefully I can get a few photographs that I can use for my art.

"Clean" - Brown Pelican

2011-01-28T12:07:00.001-08:00

This new piece was just finished - hope you like it. It is done from a few photos that I took last winter while I was in Tampa, Florida. The Brown Pelican is a beautiful bird to watch especially when it is performing it's aerial dives in pursuit of fish. I chose this image though to bring attention to the fact that there were a lot less Brown Pelicans able to preen themselves last season due to the BP oil spill.

This piece will retail for $ 2500.00 framed and measures 14" wide by 20 " high.

Le Nichoir launches their new site!

2011-01-25T09:12:00.000-08:00

Le Nichoir, the wild bird rehabilitation centre that I have partnered with has just launched their brand new website. You should check it out - lots of new videos and information concerning their new Conservation Centre. Le Nichoir at: www.lenichoir.org

Algonquin Park Visitor Centre Art Exhibition

2011-01-25T08:50:00.000-08:00

This coming Fall, I will be exhibiting at the Algonquin Park Visitor Centre. The exhibit titled "Tranquility" will run from Friday, August 26th through to Wednesday, September 28th at the Algonquin Room in the main Visitor Centre near the East Gate along Highway 60.

The "Tranquility" Show will occupy half of the room and will feature my art representative of the flora and fauna of the Park, as well as scenes representative of Algonquin Park. I am co-exhibiting as well with Photographer Frank Parhizgar which should make for a very exciting show, especially in the height of the Fall colour season and the moose rut!

"Tranquility" is just one of the many feelings achieved while:

"Exploring the Park, one experiences a connection to their environmental surroundings, one is attune to nature through all of their senses - there is a feeling of tranquility that settles over you."

As art is further developed for this show it will be added to this blog and my other sites.

Second Stage of Brown Pelican work

2011-01-12T07:59:00.000-08:00

This image shows a bit more work on the Pelican itself - I've started to build up the feather base of the bill and the feathers on the back of the bird - eventually there will be approximately 4 layers of graphite on the pelican.

New Piece in the works!

2010-12-16T11:35:00.000-08:00

I just started a new piece in dedication of the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. This piece is of a Brown Pelican sitting on top of a mooring post in south Florida preening itself. Unfortunately a luxury that many of the Brown Pelicans further north in the Gulf will not experience again.

The layout and preliminary shading base has been done and I am starting to work the rope areas to start to bring the braids and texture of the rope to life.

As this piece progresses I'll add more images. The size of this piece will be 12"W X 18"H.

Le Nichoir - a new Strategic Partnership!

2010-12-01T19:15:00.001-08:00

A new Strategic Partnership has been formed with the organization Le Nichoir - a wild bird rehabilitation centre in Hudson, Quebec.

Le Nichoir is part of a community of North American rehabilitators supported by the International Wildlife Rehabilitation Council (IWRC) and the National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association (NWRA). Their mission is to conserve wild birds as part of our natural heritage. Le Nichoir provides proper care and treatment for injured, sick, or orphaned wild birds and releases them back into their natural habitat.

Check out their site at http://www.lenichoir.org/ and the new Centre Project!

New Release - "The Calling"

2010-11-29T10:00:00.000-08:00

Hot off the Press!

This is a new piece just finished - this is a combination of several photos taken through the summer months - hope you like it.

Original is currently available - framed in wood, double matt and UV clear glass - $ 2800.00
Limited edition giclees are available as well.

Epson 7900 Stylus Pro for Giclée Prints

2010-11-23T10:51:00.000-08:00

I received my new Epson 7900 in early November and have been printing my own giclees ever since. It's amazingly simply to use and produces beautiful prints. It was a little intimidating when I went to pick it up with my truck and since my office/studio is on the third floor ( without an elevator ) I needed some extra help to set it up.

My previous printer had decided to no longer provide the service so I decided to jump in with both feet. To help off-set some of the costs of paper and ink, I have started to provide a fine art printing service to other artists - check out my website for further information.

Le Nichoir and Wildcard

2010-06-15T09:33:00.000-07:00

Le Nichoir is a wild bird rehabilitation centre in Hudson, Quebec about an hours drive from Ottawa and they are hosting a fund raising event called Wildcard. They are calling upon artists to donate small 5" X 7" original pieces of art that will be sold at $ 65.00 each.

Each original is to be signed on the back only so that the purchaser does not know who the artist is. With an event date of August 21st, le Nichoir already has over 260 artists who have committed to donating Wildcards.

They have received donations from 10 Canadian RCA members including:

Philippe Beha
Leslie Poole
Gathie Falk
Bruno Bobak
Joseph-Richard Veilleux
George Walker
Robert Bateman
Marcel Braitstein
John A. Schweitzer
Pnina Gagnon

Here is my contribution to th effort: "Fuzzy" is a young Canada Goose gosling that I photographed last week along the edge of the Rideau River in Ottawa.

Red Winged Black Bird Update

2010-06-15T09:15:00.000-07:00

A few days ago I pleased to see that all four eggs had hatched successfully and from a distance the mother could be seen collecting insects; however, sad news came 5 days later when I went back and the male was not guarding the area any longer. I checked the nest and found it empty and abandoned.

The nest was not disturbed and the grasses supporting the nest were not broken either leading me to believe that either another bird or perhaps a Red Squirrel had found the nestlings.

An art piece will still be done and hopefully some of the other nests will have better results.

Red Winged Black Bird Nesting

2010-06-02T13:04:00.000-07:00

While walking our Saint Bernard I discovered a nesting Red Winged Black Bird and decided to try and take some photos throughout the nesting/incubation period with the goal of producing several pieces of art.

When I found the nest there hadn't been any eggs laided yet but the female wasn't flying too far away so I knew she was ready to lay. Within a few days the eggs started to appear and she is now sitting on 4 bluish-green spotted eggs.

We will wait for the first to hatch and try and keep our distance so that she isn't disturbed too often.

The Gift

2010-06-02T10:32:00.000-07:00

The Gift is done and heading to a gallery. This piece is a triptych and is available in two sizes. The full size will usually be framed as three individual pieces where as the a reduced scale version will be framed as a single image. Single full size frames can be ordered if you wish as well it's just that this size would call for an oversize matt and glass order.

This piece is from a photograph that an acquaintance took and was kind enough to allow me to use it as reference. It depicts a ritual that takes place while nest building for swallows where the male birds find feathers for their mate to line her nest.

Le Nichoir - Wild Bird Rehabilitation Centre

2010-04-20T17:45:00.000-07:00

Le Nichoir Wild Bird Rehabilitation Centre was founded in 1994 as a non-profit organization and is located in Hudson, Quebec. The Centre is part of a community of North American rehabilitators, supported by the International Wildlife Rehabilitation Council (IWRC) and the National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association (NWRA).

Their mission is to conserve wild birds as part of our natural heritage. Le Nichoir provides proper care and treatment for injured, sick, or orphaned wild birds and releases them back into their natural habitat.

This coming Saturday, April 24th, Le Nichoir is hosting a "For the Birds" Benefit Dinner and Auction. This year's event will be held at the Château Vaudreuil Suites Pavillion. $75 per person (ticket includes: hors d'oeuvres, cash bar and sit down dinner)

For more information please visit their website or contact Susan at 450 458 2809.

I have donated a framed print of "Wait for Me!" to their auction event and 40 % of any sales related to Le Nichoir. You can visit their site at http://www.lenichoir.org/ .

New Art - "The Gift"

2010-04-19T18:33:00.000-07:00

The Gift is a new piece still in progress- it is a triptych based on some photographs that an acquaintance has kindly allowed me to use. Swallows use feathers that they collect to line their nest before egg laying starts - it is still unclear why but it is assumed that it is to provide a nice soft cushion for the fragile eggs as well as acting as an insulation factor when the parents are out foraging for food.

The image shows the male "handing" off a feather to his mate that he has gathered.

New Web Section - Workshops & Materials

2010-04-14T09:10:00.000-07:00

I'm starting a new section on my website www.stuartarnett.com which will display online tutorials, materials and techniques, and ultimately a section on future Workshops.

As the tutorial section builds, videos and cds should be available. Most of the turtorials will focus on wildlife features; eyes, fur, feathers, movement, etc and on the landscape side of things, features such as trees, rocks, snow, use of paint and loose graphite, etc.

I have used Staedtler products since as long as I can remember and because of that, they will form the base of my material section.

The ultimate goal of this section will be to start locally run Workshops of a two or three day duration with a similar focus as the tutorials, but have a very hands-on approach. Workshop groups would be kept to a maximum of 10 participants per workshop to ensure close one-on-one attention.

Possible locations for Summer 2010 Workshops are Westport at the Artemisia Gallery and in Algonquin Park. If you are interested please email me and I will update you on my Workshop developments.

Society of Canadian Artists - SCA

2010-04-08T18:39:00.000-07:00

The deadline for our Spring Membership drive is coming up quickly - applications are due by next Friday - April 16th.

All we need is 5 of your best images and a completed application - the selection is done by 5 independant jurors. There is a $ 45.00 jurying fee and if successful this goes towards your first year annual dues. If you are a Canadian artist and interested in applying simply email me and I will forward you the application. We are Going Green this time to help save some trees so everything is done electronically.

If you miss the Spring application the next membership drive will be in the Fall and have a deadline of October 15th !

The Olympics and Spring has arrived !

2010-04-08T17:38:00.000-07:00

The last few months have been busy - we were fortunate enough to attend the Olympics in Vancouver - an unbelievable experience!

This is one of my favourite photographs that I took while at the Opening Ceremonies just as the snowboarder "broke through" the Olympic rings.

We also spent March break in Florida where I was able to get some wildlife shots - there were some Sandhill Cranes as the side of the road that I was able to capture - fairly close up too.

San Diego Joey

2010-01-06T19:04:00.000-08:00

As part of my trip to the San Diego Zoo in November, I agreed to produce a piece of art to help raise funds and awareness of the Koala. The San Diego Zoo has the largest koala population and the most successful breeding program outside of Australia.

Though often called the "koala bear," this cuddly animal is not a bear at all; it is a marsupial, or pouched mammal. After birth, a female carries a single baby in its pouch for about six months. When the infant emerges, it rides on its mother's back or clings to her belly, accompanying her everywhere until it is about a year old.Koalas live in eastern Australia, where the eucalyptus trees they love are most plentiful. In fact, they rarely leave these trees, and their sharp claws and opposable digits easily keep them aloft. During the day they doze, tucked into forks or nooks in the trees, sleeping for up to 18 hours.

These plump, fuzzy mammals were widely hunted during the 1920s and 1930s, and their populations plunged. Helped by reintroduction, they have reappeared over much of their former range, but their populations are smaller and scattered. Koalas need a lot of space—about 100 trees per animal—a pressing problem as Australia's woodlands continue to shrink.

The Koala's status is currently considered "Threatened".

The finished art piece is available through auction at http://www.biddingforgood.com/auction/AuctionHome.action?auctionId=103042933

Wildlife Artist of the Year 2010 Competition

2009-12-10T19:47:00.000-08:00

One of the associations that I belong to is The David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation. The DSWF stationed in the UK has given away over £3million in grants to save critically endangered mammals in their wild habitat and benefit the local people who share their environment. David Shepherd is known internationally as an artist and ambassador for wildlife.

As part of the DSWF events, an annual art competition is held at the famous Mall galleries in london England with the Artist of the Year winning £10,000. The two pieces that have been entered are Anticipation and New Growth.

Anticipation is a large graphite piece that involves brush work as well as pencil work. It features two Turkey Vultures soaring high above and is actually designed to be hung from the ceiling so that viewer has to "look up into the sky" to admire the art.

New Growth is an Artistic Cartography piece that is done in graphite and Staedtler Marker on top of a Relief Map of Canada. The inspiration behind this piece involves the concept of new vegetation that takes root after a forest fire and the hope that the numbers of our Canadian Wood Bison will continue to increase and grow.

San Diego Zoo and the Beckman Centre

2009-11-26T18:45:00.000-08:00

I recently returned from a trip to San Diego - beautiful weather - 75 and sunny!

We went to the famous San Diego Zoo as well as the Wildlife Park - I took over 250 photos - the beauty of digital cameras. I have attached a few to show you some of the magnificent animals that live there.

As part of this trip I was also able to have a private tour of the Beckman Center for Conservation Research by Robin Keith - Conservation Education Research Coordinator for the San Diego Zoo's Institute for Conservation Research.

Watch for new artwork coming up in the early new year as well for a fund raising event to be held at the Zoo. The San Diego Zoo http://www.sandiegozoo.org/ will be hosting Koalapalooza, a 4-day fundraiser to raise awareness for the plight of koalas in Australia. In conjunction, the Zoo is hosting an online auction from January 8 - 19, 2010 with all proceeds directly benefitting Australian wildlife conservation. Check it out: www.sandiegozoo.org/koalapalooza

I will be donating a small original drawing of a Koala for the auction. As the piece progresses you will be able to watch on my site: http://www.stuartarnett.com/

Society of Canadian Artists

2009-11-26T18:37:00.000-08:00

As part of my duties as an artist - I decided to take on the role of VP of Membership for the Society of Canadian Artists. The SCA is a group that I have belonged to since 2008 and the group tries to promote visual artists throughout Canada. We have just finished our fall membership drive and have added 19 new members by jury selection. Our next membership drive is scheduled for the spring with an application deadline of April 16, 2010. More information can be found either on the SCA website at www.societyofcanadianartists.com or my emailing me.

Recent trip to Algonquin Park

2009-10-29T19:05:00.000-07:00

Just this week I had to go to Algonquin park to retrieve my art from the Tin Moose Gallery located at the beautiful Killarney Lodge. The Lodge closes for the winter and it was time to make the trip - the weather wasn't the best - drizzle and a bit of wet snow; however, we did see a couple of bull moose along side Highway 60.

One magnificent bull was actually 'waiting" for us to arrive because he was standing directly across from Killarney's gate - a perfect photo opt. Even though it wasn't sunny the light still shone off of his antlers.

My first blog!

2009-10-29T18:59:00.000-07:00

Well, I'm taking the plunge - I thought it was about time to start a blog - might be easier than trying to publish a monthly newsletter. This way I can let you know how things are progressing with my art and keep you up-to-date on my field study trips and anything else that may be related to art and wildlife.

I hope you enjoy it!