Delicate, refined detail is the keynote of Karen Latham’s wildlife portrayals

Award-winning watercolorist KAREN LATHAM wields her brush like a magician wields his wand, creating brilliant depictions of wildlife in natural settings. She has exhibited extensively in the United States and England and raised thousands of dollars for wildlife and environmental conservation with her paintings. Her work helps viewers everywhere to better appreciate the natural world around them.

I first saw Latham’s work in Whistle Pik gallery in Fredericksburg, TX, when I visited recently. I walked into one of their exhibit rooms and was stopped in my tracks by the stunning beauty of an image of a swan swimming in a calm pool of dark water. It was so luminous, the brushwork so lovely. The colors were so intense I could not believe it was watercolor. Latham has developed a “secret” recipe for finishing off her pieces so that they are fully protected and do not need to be placed under glass. That alone gives the viewer an extra measure of immediacy in her work, drawing you in as though you and the subject are sharing the same space.

Latham has a degree in biology, which helps her to understand the anatomy and characteristics of each creature she paints, but it is her mastery of her medium that truly brings them to life. She has continued to develop and hone her skills: “The best artist never stops learning,” she says.

Following in her footsteps, clearly also talented and dedicated artists, are her two daughters, Bonnie and Rebecca, also represented by Whistle Pik. The work of all three artists can be seen on the artists’ website as well as through their galleries. 

For more information, see:

http://www.whistlepik.com/
http://www.lathamstudios.com

-- Rosemary Carstens
http://www.CarstensCommunications.com

HOWL: The Mystique of Wolves

Why is it that wolves are one of the most mysterious, even other-worldly of images?

They are so magnificent and yet figure chillingly in many tales of adventure, even the oft-told children’s story of Little Red Riding Hood and the Big Bad Wolf. They have been the focus of harsh, bloody encounters almost to the point of extinction, yet they emerge in many nature studies as nurturing and collaborative within their packs. Whatever the reasons wolves may frighten or intrigue us, one thing’s for sure: we can’t look away!

VISIONS WEST galleries (Denver, Livingston, Bozeman) have partnered with the Natural Resources Defense Council, to host HOWL,

a group exhibition in their Denver location, to support education and awareness about wolves and to support their preservation and their habitat. Participating artists were asked to create works exploring the wolf’s many aspects, from myths and legends to their current plight in the Rocky Mountains. A portion of sales will go to benefit the NRDC’s ongoing work.

The show opens on April 22nd, with a reception at 1715 Wazee Street, Denver, from 6-9 p.m. It runs through May 5,

2010. Fifteen artists, including Duke Beardsley, Rocky Hawkins, Robert McCauley, Mary Roberson, and Matt Flint, among others, will be showing their interpretations on the theme. ROCKY HAWKINS WILL BE PRESENT AT THE GALLERY ON 4/22 !!

Visions West is open Monday–Saturday, 10:00 am - 6:00 pm – Phone: 303.292.0909
http://www.visionswestgallery.com

-- Rosemary Carstens
http://www.CarstensCommunications.com

(Images: upper left, Rocky Hawkins, Yellow Wolf Howl (12x12 oil on board); right, Robert McCauley, A Brief History of Westward Expansion (29x35 oil on canvas); lower left, Mary Roberson, Omega Serenade (22x14 oil on canvas)