Don’t Paint What You Don’t Know

Early on a September morning as I was preparing my palette to begin the day, I saw a handsome bull ease out of the timber. He slowly moved into the clearing and presented himself broadside. Then, as if on queue, he elegantly turned his gaze in my direction. In that moment I knew I going to pain him “In His Prime.”

Have you ever seen art on the wall and thought to yourself, is that a photograph or a painting? A key factor that makes art realistic is not only the detail that’s provided with a brush, but an understanding of your topic. To paint at the professional level, it takes more than natural talent, it’s taking the time to learn the details that is expected at this level. When an artist actually lives the experience of what they are painting, the bar gets set even higher. Or the art becomes truly amazing to look at. Even to the point that you start asking how much for the painting. Mary Wood Western Artist is a name to remember if you enjoy Western themed paintings and best of all, Mary creates her paintings right from her back porch. Here’s an example……

Right off her back porch stands this magnificent 6×6 bull elk. At first glance this bull just radiates confidence, possibly looking back to see if his harem is secure. There is no doubt this bull is “In His Prime” that is exactly what Mary titled this painting. All through the rut Mary was able to watch and study his behavior up close. Think of it as a figurative study except you are painting a naked bull elk instead of naked human. While writing this, out of curiosity I completed a search of elk paintings and I came across this….

Believe it or not, this painting costs $8,400.00 and it was created by a well known artist. The title of the painting claims this is a deer. It goes to show that you shouldn’t paint what you don’t know.

I reached out to Mary and asked if she could provide a quick bio for this post and here is the reply, I got back……

“I only paint subjects and country that are intimately familiar to me: horses, cowboying, ranch life and the wildlife I have tracked and studied since early childhood”

“My passion to draw and paint has been a part of my life from my earliest memories, always with the objective of being as accurate and true to my subjects as possible and at the same time capturing the atmosphere, the colors, the emotion of a split second in time that hopefully transports the viewer into the painting as if they were there.“

~Mary Wood

As a great resource for both the artist and the naturalist in me, there is a bison range relatively nearby. I love going there and spending the day observing, sketching and taking pictures. This big, handsome bull is a composite of several bulls I have seen on my trips to the range. I have been very near, perhaps too close at times when a bull explodes charging another bull. I guarantee you it will stop your heart and blow your hair back. That is exactly the sensation I want you to feel as I painted “TATANKA!” charging straight out of the canvas.

To see more of Mary’s art, please visit her site by clicking THIS LINK.