Highstead art exhibit

Subtitle:
Highstead collaborates with the Guild of Natural Science Illustrators' Greater New York chapter to showcase artwork on the theme of "Habitats, flora & fauna in natural settings".
Background:
Highstead is a 150-acre preserve/arboretum/research area in Redding, Connecticut.
The Guild of Natural Science Illustrators (GNSI) is a 1000-member society of artists working in the field of, well, depicting natural science through works of art. 

Browsing the "Habitats" exhibit on opening day.

Today's story:
This morning, Saturday, September 8, 2012, nearly fifty people gathered at Highstead for the opening reception of the art show and a conservation presentation that followed.  Guild members exhibited drawings and paintings on the theme of Habitats.  With such a broad topic, the pieces were bound to be diverse, and they were.  

attendees intently studying the artwork and accompanying texts

To start off the presentation, Highstead staff introduced Guild leaders who introduced the show and then invited artists to give brief descriptions of their work.  This is the second Guild show I have participated in, but the first grand opening I've attended.  I was as much viewing the artwork as taking in the scene of my colleagues, their evident pride in their accomplishments, and the exhibit space at Highstead.

Dorie Petrochko talking about her Milford Harbor painting.

My entry into the juried show was my watercolor painting of the Red-cockaded Woodpeckers - which has been well documented in this blog.  And, like my colleagues, I was proud and pleased to see the effect of my piece within the show as a whole.

Me describing the unique habitat of the Red-cockaded Woodpecker.

http://www.highstead.net/
http://www.gnsi.org/

Rex Brasher, Connecticut's 20th Century Bird Artist

In an earlier post I mentioned an exhibition at the University of Connecticut of Rex Brasher's prints.  I hoofed it over to the State Museum of Natural History one day after work, had the gallery space to myself, and browsed the collection in a quiet solitude that I imagine the artist himself would have recognized.

The simple display invited close inspection, and I thoroughly enjoyed the ability to stand six inches from the Short-eared Owl to take in the brilliance of the golden eyes and the detail of the fine feathering framing that piercing stare.

Rex Brasher's Short-eared Owl

detail, Short-eared Owl, Rex Brasher, artist

Remember, all of these pieces are black and white lithographs which the artist then hand-colored with airbrush.  When I look at the face of this owl I first see the intense ferocity of the predator and second the artistry that captured that gaze.  A bright reflection in the upper left corner and a simple glaze of gray suggesting the nictitating membrane, together create the curvature and depth of the owl's eye.  Masterful!

Rex Brasher's Red-headed Woodpeckers

Having just worked on my own painting of woodpeckers, I appreciate the thought that goes into this composition.  Two birds are more dynamic than one, a bit of foliage suggests the type of tree the species might favor and the bark detail is inviting but not overwhelming.

detail of the male Red-headed Woodpecker, Rex Brasher, artist

Can I say again - remember - these are black and white lithographs, handpainted.  The planning that goes into such a feat is staggering, and Brasher repeated it how many hundreds of times?  Eight hundred and seventy four species, one hundred sets of prints.