All posts by Wilderness Walker

The Fisher Returns to Oympic National Park

American Fisher
This commissioned painting is for Olympic National Park for use as the summer 2008 park newspaper cover (100,000 copies) and interpretive exhibits. The last Olympic fisher was trapped about 50 yrs ago, leaving an empty ecological niche. ONP is releasing 100 of these animals in a re-population plan. About the size of a large housecat, fishers hunt small birds and rodents.
I painted this scene at about the place the first group were released, the Elwha River Valley. The models for the trilliums were from our own backyard, and so is the cone midden the junco is messing about in. The junco could have been here too, if it had stood still long enough.
Because of the interest in this project, we decided to offer high-quality giclee prints of the fisher painting. Here’s the fisher link and easy buying info.

Elk Prairie, Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park

Elk Prairie, Prairie Creek Redwoods State and National Park, is south of Crescent City California – north of Eureka. I have a lot of work there, two large commissions in the visitor center museum, many roadside panels, lots of printed products in the non-profit store (posters, puzzles, books – you name it).

So, when the State of California asked if I was interested in doing another one for an interpretive exhibit, I jumped at the chance. I have this legacy-thing going there and want it to continue. Big opening night for the mural installation is mid-June, 2008.

Junaluska

“Junaluska” – launch and shoreboat for the 1929 fan-tailed classic “Olympus.” When launched, Olympus was originally named Junaluska. This boat now charters out of Seattle for trips in Puget Sounds and places north.

Notice the varnish reflection on the combing and below it on the deck. I love these double reflections, and I think the painting was created solely because of this area.

Prints of the painting are now available. Email us for more information.

Red Rowboats

Port Townsend is full of these types of small wooden boats – probably more so than any West Coast town I know of. I especially liked the wine-glass stern of this one, so I painted it twice – in the same painting. It was tied on a concrete dock, but I turned it into a classic old wooden dock to match the classic old boat. Acrylic on paper.
We now have giclee prints of this painting. Check them out here.
As of May, 2008, this painting is still available. Email us if you’d like more information.

Sea Witch Sailing on Tyler Street

That’s right.
If Tyler Street continued downhill into the water, that is.
That’s our own Sea Witch, the 1939 Monk-designed sloop you see so much of in many of my paintings.

Oh, and the best coffee in town is just a block up from the beach here, at, of course, Tyler Street Coffee.
Prints are available of this painting. As of May 2008, this painting is still available for purchase. Email us if you’d like more information. (sorry, it’s sold)

Whitebark Pines in Peril

Whitebark Pines in the West are in serious trouble, thanks to a pathogen unleashed by us (of course it’s US, isn’t ALL of this mess because of US).

Commissioned by the Crater Lake Institute in cooperation with the Whitebark Pine Ecosystem Foundation, this mural shows the interwoven lives of all that depend on this tree species. Grizzlies, squirrles, birds and all in peril as well.

Currently, a large format poster installation is being installed in the Grand Targhee National Forest of this image, as well as puzzles and posters coming in summer 2008.

Beachgrass at Point Wilson Lighthouse

This beach is loosing sand in winter storms. Thought I’d better paint it before it’s completely gone. Point Wilson Light is the dividing line between Puget Sound and the Straits of Juan deFuca – a big deal to boaters. The Indians disliked rounding this point so much they instead opted to drag their huge canoes overland through what is now Port Townsend. But I love it here on this point, with wild waves and kelp beds, sandy beaches (rare for this area) and lots of wildlife. Prints are available, and as of April 2008, so is the original painting. If you’re interested, email us.