Painting the Faces of Wildlife

Capture the True Character of Wild Subjects

Painting a wolf, bear, or cougar takes on a new meaning when one captures its individual personality. According to Kalon Baughan, whose award-winning work is exhibited internationally, representing the true character of wild animals depends on a mastery of the face.

Whether portraying deer or moose, red fox or chipmunk, the skillful artist must focus on the face to reveal the personality and essence of his or her subject. Techniques for rendering fur and feathers, eyes, ears, and muzzles, create an effect both realistic and impressionistic. Whether the medium is oil- or water-based, artists will find tips on proper tools and materials and concepts which can be applied to any animal. A master painter of animals for over thirty years, Baughan presents clear, concise step-by-step instructions organized around 18 focused demonstrations.

More than a how-to manual, in Painting the Faces of Wildlife Baughan has created a course which helps the student to grow and develop their individual style as an artist. Tackling the most difficult aspect of representative art-the face-challenges the painter to push boundaries and take their art to the next level. Students and masters of wildlife painting will find this a treasure trove of technical knowledge and inspiration.

This book is also available from Echo Point Books in hardcover, ISBN 1635619270.

Kalon Baughan reveals step-by-step instructions for perfecting the craft of painting mammals large and small by capturing facial characteristics. A perfect companion for the artist who wishes to capture the very essence of wild animals.

Kalon began drawing as soon as he could hold a pencil. Since as early as he can remember, he's had a passion for making art and he's been pursuing that passion professionally for more than 30 years. Kalon works primarily with oils, graphite and charcoal. With his wildlife art he strives to capture the allure of animals in their natural environments and to inspire conservation of native species. With his figure drawings Kalon depicts the artistry of the human form and the depth of emotion that can be hidden therein. Kalon's career as a professional artist began in 1988 when he graduated with honors from Albion College in Michigan, where he earned the Outstanding Artist Award. Kalon returned to Albion as an Artist in Residence from 1992-1994. Since then, Kalon has enjoyed several opportunities to serve as an instructor for artists throughout the country. Kalon has exhibited his work in a variety of national and international shows through the years and received numerous awards and honors. In addition to his art, Kalon strives to support wildlife conservation by applying his skill as a self-taught naturalist and photographer to the study of rare carnivores. He uses remotely triggered trail cameras to capture detailed images of wildlife. Through partnerships with state and federal agencies, as well as not-for-profit organizations, the data gathered is used to inform species-specific conservation in Montana.
Born in 1968, Bart Rulon lives and works on Whidbey Island in Washington State. He received a bachelor's degree from the University of Kentucky in a self-made biological illustration major. After graduating with honors, he started a career as a professional wildlife artist and never looked back. From the start, a hallmark of Bart's career has always been the amount of time he spends in the field researching wildlife. He enjoys going the extra mile to photograph and research something unique and he often uses a sea kayak, camouflaged floating blind, or a custom-made photography boat in order to get closer to his subjects for a more intimate view. Over the years, Rulon's travels have taken him on long photography/research trips to Africa, India, South America, Alaska, and Costa Rica, and he has traveled all over the contiguous United States and Canada. He's inspired to share these wildlife adventures with the rest of the world through his art and photography. Bart has written and illustrated 5 art instruction books published by North Light Books, and he has been a contributing author/artist/photographer in over 12 additional books. His award-winning art has appeared in over 60 museums in the United States and abroad, and his artwork is included in the permanent collections of the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum, the Laumeister Art Center, and the Massachusetts Audubon Society. Rulon's works are regularly included in many of the finest exhibitions displaying wildlife and landscape art in North America. His paintings have been included in twenty one exhibitions with the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum, including eighteen times in their prestigious Birds in Art exhibit and one each in their Wildlife: The Artist's View, Natural Wonders, and Art and the Animal exhibits. His work has been chosen for the Society of Animal Artist's annual exhibition Art and the Animal fourteen times since he became a member. His paintings were included in the Arts for the Parks top 100 exhibition and national tour seven times, and in 1994 he won their Bird Art Award. The National Museum of Wildlife Art, in Jackson Wyoming, invited Bart to participate in their Western Visions show for twelve years. He also teaches natural science illustration at the University of Washington and was awarded their Teaching Excellence Award in 2009. Ten years into his art career Rulon decided it was also time to start selling his photography, leading to the dual career he enjoys now. After overwhelming demand from fellow photographers and artists, Bart has also started leading wildlife photography/art tours and workshops to some of his favorite spots both local and exotic! You can see his art, photography, and books at www.BartRulon.com

Kalon Baughan is a highly accomplished wildlife painter, canoeist, and Colorado naturalist. . . . The title notwithstanding, this book is not solely focused on the faces of wildlife. Instructions for eyes, ears, and horns are complemented by renderings of fur and feathers and techniques for capturing natural movement in the wild. Other fine books in this genre include Bill Tilton's Drawing and Painting Animals (LJ 3/15/97), but this volume adds essential advanced skills like the building of a floating blind and techniques of wilderness photography. Kalon Baughan is a highly accomplished wildlife painter, canoeist, and Colorado naturalist.