Finding Purpose

I’ve lived in Florida since I was 7 years old. My idea of this place has a lot more to do with the ocean and the Everglades than theme parks in Orlando or cosmopolitan Miami Beach. I’d much rather go snorkeling or take an airboat ride then hit the “normal” tourist things offered here. I go to Key West and do a cursory visit to Duval Street but the water, finding Key Deer, or visiting the bird sanctuary, that’s where it’s at! I love my animals, of all types. Except mosquitos, lol. So, stands to reason, my most favorite thing to paint is nature and the wildlife that lives there.

Now we are heading into Shark Week (the only time I am excited for television). I have renewed my subscription to Discovery and followed up on my favorites. One of which is Forrest Galante of “Extinct or Alive” fame. I watched “Alien Sharks” several years ago, not really expecting to like it, but was wrapped up in his Steve Erwin-like enthusiasm as he geeked out over bizarre and little known shark species. So, I picked up his book.

I highly recommend it, not just for the animals, but he’s had quite an adventure filled life. One of the things that struck me was his process behind deciding to delve into TV land. He had to reconcile with himself over staying true to academia and following the traditional route of a biologist or stepping outside of the box. He says, “I realized that my primary goal was to share my passion for conservation”. Talking to the camera was “my way of inviting viewers into the journey, into the jungle, the mountain, the reef, the cave or wherever we happened to be searchng. They were my way of sharing my wonder for wildlife - its diversity and adaptability, its form and function.”

When I read that, I thought, that’s what I want my art to do! I have said from the beginning, I hope it brings the beauty and personalities of nature into the home. I feel we have a huge disconnect with the nature world. We have a terrible disconnect with our own “nature” with so many people not even understanding our food and its sources. But I digress. I would love nothing more than my art to reach people, maybe open and eye or 2 to what is out there, maybe encourage them to help fix some things that are broken.

Take this latest painting:

“On Watch” depicts a flock of Lesser Yellowlegs. I fell in love with the reference photo showing the various poses, activities and personalities. Then I looked into the birds themselves and learned this beautiful shorebird was hunted almost to extinction (they made it easy on the hunters because they wouldn’t leave their fallen mates). They made a wonderful comeback only to be faced with the loss of their wetland habitat. These birds trek from Canada across the US to South America in their yearly migration. In spite of having all that to roam, they are running out of places to land. They have been put on the “Tipping Point” list, meaning they have lost 50% of their population in the last 50 years! Their strong sense of community should be something we can understand and help protect the marshes and shores they call home because we need them, too (in spite of mosquitos).

Having made a living working with animals, mostly horses, but dabbled in dog training, as well and having all manner of pets grace my life over the years (dogs, fish, ferrets, geckos, birds and always cats), I have learned how individual personalities are. The same animal is never the “same”. I want to put that into my paintings. When I get complimented on the '“expression” in a painting or drawing, my heart is warmed. I don’t want to just copy photos. I want to add that element of humanity, hoping the viewer sees more than just an image, but something that has to potential to pull back a veil and show something we overlook in our everyday lives. Right down to that cute, little shorebird.