L Wren Walraven

Not only are my wildlife paintings a record of the wild animals that I have witnessed and experienced throughout my life, they are also a record of a moment in time in the life of those animals. Sometimes the work is a story, and other times it is about the encounter that I had with the wild animal. And still other times it is just about painting that animal in a certain position, or color palette, or with texture or through opacity. I filter the subjects through my past and present with color, drawing into painting, pushing values, and abstracting the scene. I layer acrylic paint using all sorts of mixed media to find ways to nudge my art to be its most authentic, soulful and personal. There is a sense of playfulness and whimsey in my work, but I remain laser focused on the fragility of life on our planet for all animals, including us.

I also paint landscapes because NM has the best, most inspiring landscapes!