2011 Federal Duck Stamp-Drake Wood Duck- Called, ” On A Log “

Each year someone very special is selected to win the Federal Duck Stamp, and while I enjoy this work, my painting has not been selected. You might ask, why do you want to paint the Duck Stamp? That is a very good question and worthy of a very good answer. When the program began way back in 1933, the art was very good, but with no color, then eventually color was added, making the judging elements more difficult. You have composition, with the 7 elements of design, color, and the duck species being portrayed. The numerical point system is not perfect yet by staying with their judging criteria the final and highest score is selected to be the Federal Duck Stamp the following year, there is always a one year lag in the program.

My process is very detailed as I go into the field to take images of as many duck species as I can photograph. The anatomy of the duck has to be perfect so my images from the field help me to document their every detail so I do not miss in my sketch and painting. I love the development side of the duck painting and all the time in the field studying these very beautiful ducks and there is a lot to learn in this process, habitat, behavior, and mating behavior in the spring with both the drake and hen. This is a dynamic experience and so memorable, worthy of the time necessary to document and record, for a future duck stamp. I do all my own camera work, as you may not know the duck stamp has to be free hand sketched and no other computer or other aid in making the sketch with is painted.

This year the 5 duck species are Mallard, Blue Winged Teal Cinnamon Teal, Gadwall, and Trumpeter Swan so each of us select one species and submit that painting by August 15, 2015, is the deadline. Approximately over 200 American Artists participate each year and as I develop my duck stamp blogs I’ll share the spoils of a winner and how the USFWS celebrates with the artist and his home community, very neat.

Best wishes,

Jimmy Springett wildlife painter

Called, ” On A Log ” Original 7″ x 10″ 2011 Federal Duck Stamp

Sandhill Cranes-Original Pencil Sketch, Called, ” Legs Up “

Those sweet sandhill cranes on November 1ST, were faced with incredible weather conditions, using around Thanksgiving Day, November 27, the sandhill cranes lift off for their wintering home in the south, due to very cold and heavy snows. This past November was very different and we experienced very cold temperatures, on November 1ST, I was visiting Crex Meadows Wildlife Area at Phantom Lake and the extreme below zero temperatures froze the lake solid and there standing on the ice were 4,000 sandhill cranes. The atmosphere that morning was full of moisture or fog making the sky a pure white color and the -4 degrees below zero, about have of the sandhill cranes pulled their legs up under their body to keep them from freezing. The usual temperatures for this time of year are 25-30 degrees above zero, so usually they do not stay when these very harsh temperatures are reached. IN today’s original pencil sketch one of the sandhill cranes displays his legs out behind him and the other sandhill crane has his legs tucked up under his body to keep warm. This original sketch is called, ” Legs Up ” and I am willing to paint an original oil painting of this sketch. If you buy this original oil painting you also receive this original pencil sketch, my thanks for buying my oil painting. At the bottom of this note is my FASO WEbsite you can contact me to pursue this painting, thank you in advance. Visit my WordPress blog daily to check for new original sketches, all will be unique and new, no repeats. Best wishes,

Called, ” Legs Up ”

FASO Website : http://www.jimspringett.com

Jimmy Springett wildlife painter

Sandhill Cranes, 20″ x 24″ on Masonite, called, ” A Joyful Morning “

For those of you who are great admirers of the sandhill cranes then this is the painting for you and your family. This was on October 29,2014 in Crex Meadows Wildlife Area, at sunrise with a storm trying to gain strength but it did not, it dissipated that morning and the sunshine was bright and beautiful. For your enjoyment today I am going to list the 4 process steps for you so you can see how my painting development process and how this process works for me. In a few days I will list this painting on eBay with a fixed price $, and Best Offer $, I like to bargain with you if you are a serious client. My Steps:

1. Sketch, gridding with bird placements
2. Paint the sky and tree background
3. Paint the middle and foreground
4. Paint the sandhill cranes and sign my name

Please ask your questions if you are curious and I’ll answer with the day. With best wishes,

Jimmy Springett wildlife painter

Called, ” A Joyful Morning ” Original 20″ x 24″ oil painting on Masonite hard board

” A Buck’s Haven “

 

At sunrise the early morning light makes for a wonderful silhouette of a trophy buck. This is an original watercolor on a 12″ x 24″ stretched canvas that has several layers of my special coating. This painting is available so check out on my FASO website at http://www.jimspringett.com. Have a good evening.

 

Jimmy Springett wildlife painter

 

Titled, ” A Buck’s Haven “

” Flying Lessons “

 

 

Each fall brings a bounty of sandhill cranes to Crex Meadows Wildlife Area and this year was no different. IN this original sketch and oil painting is a sandhill crane family and the painting is titled, ” Flying Lessons ” as they fly often and much during a a day to get their juvenile strong for the long migration south. The young bird is is the middle between his parents, and has an auburn cap as compared to the scarlet red of his parents.

 

Have a great day,

 

Jimmy Springett wildlife painter

 

Titled, ” Flying Lessons “

” Sandhill Moments “

Sunrise in the wild is one of the most beautiful times in the day, it signifies the beginning of a new day with new hope. Something about starting fresh, these sandhill cranes are early risers too, and in late October there is close to 25,000 sandhill cranes in Crex Meadows Wildlife Area. This year our fall weather was unpredictable , in October we had 2 1/2″ of wet snow did not stay, but is an indication of things to come. A week ago today on Nov 10TH we had over 15″ of very heavy and wet snow and we have already been below zero. Last year our first deep snow fall was on Nov 27. Welcome to NW WI, stay tuned will not be like watching cartoons, however, my studio is a warm and friendly haven from the harsh winter weather and I am going to paint sandhill and whooping cranes all winter. Art sales are very special and if you like to view and or purchase on my website here is my address: http://www.jimspringett.com and you can check on eBay too. While these paintings are not commissions I do special paintings as requested, check out my step by step commission process on my FASO website and if you have that special image you’d love and original oil painting, please inquire.With hope,

 

Best weishes,

 

Jimmy Springett wildlife painter

Titled, ” Sandhill Moments ” Original 9×12 oil painting

” In The Wilderness, Once Again “

Every year wildlife is born in the wilderness, sort of like our Lord being born in a manger among animals. This is an original oil painting of a very wild gray wolf drinking from the stream on a very cold morning when only water with swift current stays open. The sky blue and very white snow you know just how cold, cold really is, and yet this is all a normal day in a gray wolve’s life as he searches for his daily bread. Canines are unique and can live in harmony in nature, only killing what is necessary to live, and he never wastes any food, never, the wolf pack depend on great hunting skills and great endurance to turn the tide for their pack. They are communal animals, ranging from as few as two to close to twenty wolves may make a pack, much is dependent on competing wolf packs and food supply.

If you get a chance to visit the International Wolf Center in Ely, MN there is much to learn and to share because the gray wolf is under attack once again, and there seems to be this  injustice going on again, so I hope others like you and your freinds will learn more and become aware of ways to help them survive, they need a body of advocates or they might not survive. I love to paint and share all wildlife aniamal’s life stories through showing you their unique behavior from studying and seeing them in the wild.

Have a great day, and help to save a gray wolf, with peace and hope,

Best wishes,

 

Jimmy Springett wildlife painter

” Swan Family Memories ” Crex Meadows Wildlife Area

Good morning, just have been working a few days on this miniature oil painting, on a 3″ x 3 3/4″ x 1/8″ Masonite hard board of a mule deer buck seen in September 2003.

In this miniature painting titled, ” Antlers In Velvet ” was a beautiful mule deer buck seen in Theodore Roosevelt National Park, South Unit, in September of 2003, standing in the blue green sage brush, looking directly at me. Painting this miniature in oils is harder than using watercolors because takes a day for the oil paint to dry and when painting in watercolors dries fast as I am painting so I can continue in one sitting until the painting is completed. A lot to learn and most importantly is the quality of your 000005 brush a 0003 brush is too big and the tip needs to be very narrow for the minute shapes in this small a painting.

I am going to list on ETSY this morning and the fee with the original miniature painting, the miniature easel, my Letter of Authenticity and a premium 5″ x 7″ card print with envelope is for $67.00 delivered to your door, “Free Shipping, via Priority Mail and you will receive in 2 days once payment is received. The painting sides are all painted and is lightly varnished to protect the paint finish, and makes for a wonderful gift. If you have questions please let me know. Thank you once again, for visiting my WordPress Shop and Blog, with hope,

 

Best wishes,

 

Jimmy Springett wildlife painter

 

Titled, ” Antlers In Velvet ” Original Miniature Oil Painting On 3″ x 3 3/4″ x 1/8″ Masonite hard board

Miniature 4″ x 6″ on ETSY, With Miniature Wooden Easel

 

Today’s special is one of my miniature watercolors on Masonite hard board, of a cow buffalo and her calf, seen  in Theodore Roosevelt National Park, South Unit, in September. This is an original watercolor miniature on a 4″ x 6″ Masonite hard board and can be seen on my FASO website or ETSY type my ETSY Shop name jimmyspringett all one word, no space and you’ll see my current list of original miniature and standard 9″ x 12″ size paintings. They make wonderful gifts for any time in the year and if you check weekly I add new paintings all the time.

This painting is titled, ” The Next Generation ” and with each painting purchase I include my signed and sealed Letter Of Authenticity and a premium 5″ x 7″ card print and envelope. The small miniature wooden easel mas seen in the image is included too.  With hope,

 

Best wishes,

 

Jimmy Springett wildlife painter

Titled, ” The Next Generation ”  Original 4″ x 6″ watercolor miniature painting

 

FASO Link: http://www.jimspringett.com

 

Have a good day!!!

Titled, ” Spring Scents “

 

This is a new bull buffalo original oil painting as seen in Theodore Roosevelt National Park, South Unit and is called, ” Spring Scents ” and is available on my eBay Shop, here is the link”

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p3984.m570.l1313.TR0.TRC0.H0.Xjim+springett&_nkw=jim+springett&_sacat=0

I hope you enjoy and is available for shipping immediately. With hope,

 

Best wishes,

 

Jimmy Springett wildlife painter

 

Called, ” Spring Scents ” Original 5″ x 7″ oil painting