"I want
people to experience the peace, the tranquility of the
wilderness, of being the only one out there, communing
with nature."
- Daniel Smith
Daniel
Smith, one of America's foremost wildlife artist, lives in Montana,
surrounded by the wildlife he loves to paint. Smith enjoys wide
acclaim for his conservation stamp artwork, winning the 1988-89 Federal Duck
Stamp Competition. His global prominence in the world of wildlife art
has afforded him the honour of creating the original artwork for several
international programs as well.
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Fully Engaged
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“The annual salmon
run attracts a multitude of wildlife. Grizzly bears feast on salmon
as opportunistic gulls function as the cleanup crew. The complexity
and efficiency of Mother Nature continues to amaze me. Watching
bears feeding alternates between intense activity and calm moments.
I don’t know if they can smell the salmon when they arrive or if
they sense some other change, but once they become aware of it, when
one bear goes out, they all go out. I’m very fortunate and blessed
to refer to these experiences as ‘part of my job.’” – Daniel Smith
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There is a
conversation going on here but we can only guess at the precise
message. “Ravens and wolves share an interesting symbiotic
relationship,” says artist Daniel Smith. “Ravens will lead wolves to
winterkill because they are not capable of opening up the carcass
with their beaks. Once the wolves do the job, they all feast. Vice
versa, the ravens will follow the wolves, ever watchful for an
opportunity to eat. Ravens are extremely cleaver birds and have been
known to taunt the wolves in a game of dare. I have witnessed the
taunting with our family dog while the raven was obviously
entertained by his reaction.”
Raven Rhetoric
received the well-deserved People’s Choice Award at the 2011 Western
Visions® Miniatures and More Show & Sale which opened, September 3
at the National Museum of Wildlife Art in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
Daniel Smith was the featured artist at this year’s event. This is a
portrait of intimate communication in the natural world that will
inspire conversation in your home or office.
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“Bison
are the North American version of Cape Buffalo, I’ve been on foot around
them in their habitat and to say they are intimidating is an
understatement. What I enjoy about this painting is that its sedentary
feel is in such contrast to the intense nature of the beast. ..Painting
the fur on the American Bison is a challenge in my highly realistic
style. But when I do that successfully, you can get a real sense of
proximity to this incredible beast. The smooth water of the Lamar River
carries golden reflections of the surrounding prairie intermingled with
the blue patches of sky. I am really pleased with how this painting came
out.”
- Daniel Smith
The Lamar Valley is
located in the remote north eastern corner of Yellowstone National Park.
A destination for serious wildlife-watching, it is home to elk, wolves,
bear and bison.
Lamar Libations was
unveiled at the 2011 Prix De West Invitational Art Exhibition and Sale
at The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City.
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“The greatest part of
venturing out into the wilderness,” Rod Frederick observes, “is that you
can’t determine what kind experience it will deliver. I took my son to
Yellowstone for a special father/son adventure his senior year in high
school. Our plan was to track wolves. Soon after we set out we found
ourselves enveloped by a herd of the park’s bison. They can range two
miles in a day while grazing and we had the treat of a lifetime.
“On a larger scale,
the great migrations that spanned the North American plains were driven
by the buffalo’s never ending quest for food. Their movement was timed
to when their primary food source, grass, would be most full of
nutrients. Non-competing species such as the Pronghorn Antelope often
migrated as well, feeding on a different portion of the stalk or type of
grass all together. The relationship between animal and land was
symbiotic, the buffalo maintained the plains, the plains maintained the
buffalo.”
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Black
bear is a relatively common species in North America and more so in
Smith’s home state of Montana where he is fortunate to be able to do
field work practically (and sometimes actually) outside his back door.
An accomplished wildlife painter, Smith captured the essence of this
bear’s heft and character in this 10x10” original painting. “I feel the
pose is somewhat anthropomorphic,” says the artist, “ and therefore
people are attracted to the composition.”
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“Living close to Yellowstone National
Park has its advantages,” relates Dan
Smith, “especially when the bison rut is
at its peak in July and August. There
are three to four thousand bison in the
park gathering in groups of 50 to 300.
If you put yourself in the right place,
you’re really going to see the dust
fly.”
This access gave Dan a leg up at this
year’s Masters of the American West
Exhibition and Sale where the 30” x 48”
Heavy Hitters took home the 2011 Bob
Kuhn Wildlife Award for best wildlife
painting. “It’s an incredible honor,”
Smith states with awe. “I’m the youngest
to have been selected for this award.
You always hope that your work will be
recognized, but never expect it. To be
included in the ranks of Bob Kuhn,
Tucker Smith, Ken Carlson and Kent
Ullberg is a privilege.”
Heavy Hitters focus is the look in the
eyes of a 2000 pound, six-feet tall by
twelve-feet in length bison in rut that
lets you know he means business. The
ferocity of this intent combined with
all that mass is an extraordinary
display. The snorting and pawing of dirt
builds to the point where the two males
make contact. You know by the look in
left-hand bison’s eyes that this is the
real deal.
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The complex social order of the wolf pack is as
nurturing and caring an environment as
one will find in the wild. An alpha male
and female, or breeding pair, form the
nucleus of this tight knit family. As
with any potential relationship, first
impressions will last a lifetime.
Few species have undergone the change in public
perception, thanks to conservation and
education efforts, like the wolf. The
artist involvement with the Yellowstone
Wolf Recovery Project in the mid-1990s,
when wolves were first being
reintroduced to the Park, reinvigorated
his interest in this apex predator.
Court and Spark stood out as a collector
favourite at the Eiteljorg Museum’s 2010
Quest for the West Art Show and Sale
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“A slight breach in the moisture laden cloud
cover allows the sun to penetrate with its radiant warmth,” relates
Daniel Smith. “The cougar’s damp coat emits an ethereal glow as moisture
vaporizes into the silent wilderness. The rocky outcrop creates an
excellent vantage point for the resting mountain lion as he surveys his
domain. My home borders the Yellowstone ecosystem and has a healthy
population of mountain lions. It is a rare thrill to experience these
elusive predators in the wild.”
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“When the fish
are running and bear are feasting like this,” says Smith, “they won’t
even waste their time eating the entire fish. They’ll focus on the skin
and the fatty layer beneath, throwing the rest of the fish aside. On the
surface it may appear wasteful, but it is extremely efficient when
fattening up for the winter’s hibernation is the priority".
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Artists become
known for signature works and increasingly Dan Smith’s “water” paintings
are becoming “must haves” for collectors. As is the case for Stillwater
Crossing, evidently “must haves” for museum collections as well. Dan
created this painting specifically for the Eiteljorg Museum’s Quest for
the West Art Show last September. In a strong overall showing of art,
Smith’s painting won the show’s Harrison Eiteljorg Purchase Award and is
now part of the museum’s permanent collection.
It is easy to see why museums and
collectors think Smith is doing something special. Water and its
qualities are one of the toughest real world experiences to translate
convincingly into painting. From the reflective qualities of the placid
surface to the bison’s turbulent wake, what you see here is flawless. A
true signature work from a highly respected American artist.
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Out of the
Dust, Daniel Smith newest fine art edition, is a gem of North America’s
giant icons. You can almost smell the animal and feel the dry heat in
this image. “My paintings are a reflection of many years of field work
combined with a passion for the natural world,” says the artist. “My
objective is to share my passion through a scientifically accurate
realistic painting while maintaining artistic integrity.” You can get a
piece of this fast-rising wildlife star, signed and numbered and at an
affordable price, from Picture This framing & gallery .
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The mountain lion
was nearly annihilated at the beginning of the 20th century by ranchers and
hunters. Since the 1960s, however, the mountain lion population has
rebounded thanks to new protective laws.
The mountain lion in
Smith's painting, is in his glory in the wild. Smith's detailed style
captures the curl of the cougar's tail and the tension in his muscles so
realistically that you may feel the need to slowly back away from this cat
On the Edge.
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"Bears have an uncanny sense of smell".
Being omnivorous they get most of their nutrients from nuts, berries and
fish (which are not very filling) so they spend most of their lives
searching for food. This grisly bear has been fortunate enough to find a
cache of honey within reach." Says Daniel Smith.
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In prehistoric times bears were revered as gods. To
this day, the power and magnificence of the bear
stirs our imagination and emotions. Cool Runnings
is a captivating portrait of an animal who has
inspired both fear and fascination in mankind for
millennia. Smith’s realistic style brings every drop
of water and each wet hair on the grizzly’s face
into sharp focus, making it clear that the artist
has spent years studying these remarkable creatures.
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The hush of an autumn morning is barely broken
by the quiet rushing of water and the splashing steps of a bull and cow
moose. “What drew me to this scene,” says Daniel Smith, “is its abstract
quality, the division between the dark, still water of the background and
the reflective bright water of the small cascade in the foreground. I always
liked the peace and tranquility of running water, like watching a fire at
night—it’s got that same mesmerizing quality.”
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As the harsh
morning sun heats the earth, the only cool surface available to this
magnificent grizzly bear is a rushing stream. The wet fur on his belly and
legs attest to the bear's love of the water as he plunges in with his
massive front paws. The water itself looks so inviting and the sun, so
harsh, that you may have to stop yourself from attempting to share this
grizzly's
Retreat from the Heat.
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In the lion, one
may find strength, grace, intelligence, beauty, nobility and utter and
exquisite laziness. The lion is so convincing in his
perfection that he has managed to become crowned "King of the Jungle."
-Daniel Smith
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In his latest fine
art limited edition, Double Trouble, wildlife artist Daniel Smith departs from
his signature images of the wild in the wilderness. “I generally don’t paint
adults and young together,” says Smith, who used a studio full of pine cones
and other reference materials while composing this close-up view of a mother
grizzly and her two cubs. “The grizzly is one of the species who remain with
their offspring, in most instances for three years. Nature dictates when the
young can fend for themselves.”
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"The closer you are
to its environment, the better you will be able to portray the subject,”
says wildlife artist Dan Smith. And he should know. Smith goes on location,
gets close to the subjects he paints and studies them where they live. Icon
of the West is a rugged portrait of the defining symbol of the West, the
American Bison. His wooly, stoic face is the embodiment of the often rough
and harsh life out on the open plains. Smith has superbly captured the
demeanor of this burly giant in a timeless portrait of formidable strength.
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The spirit that
makes a creature truly wild soars in Sovereign Repose. For Daniel Smith to
portray such an intimate understanding of this raptor's nature attests to
the time he spends in its natural habitat. The bald eagle (haliaeetus
leucocephalus), is found over most of North America, from Alaska and Canada
to northern Mexico. In 1782 the Continental Congress officially adopted the
current design for the Great Seal of the United States, emboldened with a
bald eagle grasping arrows and an olive branch with its talons. While on the
brink of extinction late in the 20th century, today the population of the
great bird has stabilized, ensuring that this living embodiment of freedom
continues its reign.
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