Sky Hunters : Artist Reception Featuring Jen Smith

About this experience

Wednesday, June 11, 6:30pm - 8:30pm

• Doors open at 6:30pm (Enter through the Welcome Center building)
• Reception begins at 7:00pm in the Interpretive Center Building
• Refreshments and light hors d'oeuvres will be provided

Show Description:

Sky Hunters  showcases 12 charcoal and pastel drawings on custom cradled birch panels of different birds of prey.  These are birds I have encountered in the High Deserts of Wyoming, Montana and also my current home in the mid Columbia River Gorge in Washington State and Oregon. These drawings are inspired by my many hikes into the interiors of the wilderness for research, pure curiosity and love for raptors.  My intention is always to capture the energy and prowess of these dynamic hunters. As a naturalist and a wildlife artist I focus on the anatomical accuracy and also the graceful beauty and energy that is evident just in their existence. My goal is also to educate and inspire others to understand the importance of our birds of prey and their role ecologically in our environment. 

Artist Bio:

Jen Smith grew up in the Bighorn Basin of northern Wyoming just 90 miles east of  Yellowstone National Park.  She draws inspiration from the badlands, prairies and the Rocky Mountains where she was raised. Jen received her BFA from Montana State University, Bozeman, MT.  Through the act of exploration she responds to the natural world in its ever evolving state through the medium of charcoal, and pastel pencil. Her work, although naturalistic, is very modern, showcasing a high desert palette and modern compositional considerations.  A wildlife advocate, and a passionate naturalist, she places her focus on presenting her subjects in their unique and exquisite beauty.  Collectors around the country recognize her work as having a unique “spirit”  that translates through her dynamic and bold style.  She has shown her work nationally in prestigious shows and venues such as “Western Visions” in Jackson, Wyoming at the National Museum of  Wildlife Art, and “Art of the West” at the High Desert Museum in Bend, Oregon.  She enjoys an industrial studio right at the edge of the Gifford Pinchot National Forest in Stabler, WA.