Wildlife Portraits

This week I decided to treat myself some light, and fun pauntings that had no deadline or feeling of " I have to" get this painting done feeling attached to them. It was a wonderful and freeing experience for me!
See more of my work @ http://www.bhensler.com/

"Mule Deer II"  11" x 14" Oil on panel -
This Mule Deer is my favorite (except for the really harsh shadow on his nechk I did not see until I was uploading these)

"Mule Deer" - 11" x 14" oil on panel

"Shiras Moose" - 11" x 14" oil on panel

"Pronghorn Antelope" 11" x 14" oil on panel

Tuscan Villa View

I've really been slacking with the posts, so... Here's a mural I completed in West Valley, Utah about a week ago. A very nice client, and a fun and familiar subject. With some direction from my patron, we transformed an ordinary stark white wall into an element that transformed her kitchen/dining area into the focal point for her style.
 She was considering going with a printed vinyl mural. I do realize that, with technology progressing the way that it is, printed vinyl products certainly have their place in the market. However, (somewhat biased, I know) there is nothing like an original, hand-painted work of art in one's home or place of business. Not to mention, the personalization of the scale, subject matter, colors, etc.
 Let me know what you think, feel....Billy

The full size "Tuscan Villa View" mural.

A close-up of the mural.

A Frame for the Buffalo...Cape Buffalo, that is.

So, I love being a painter. It feels like an extension of me. I got layed of from a job doing computer animation around 20 years ago. I liked the job because I got to use my creativity, but sometimes it was a little frustrating looking at a screen all day, and then trying to decipher what I had to input for the machine to deliver to me the desired result. Spent alot of time striving to learn how to "talk" to the computer in a language it would get. But, I digress- I had never been let go like that, so it was a hard time for me. When I began creating again with only my hands and a paintbrush, I realized that this was meant to be I very much enjoy creating and putting things together. It gives me a sense of being and productivity to participate in actions like these.

The Frame
 I can do a limited amount of woodwork, but because I hold in such high regard the skilled and talented people that really do it well, I sometimes almost dread the "money-saving" task of building a frame.
However, with some moulding from Home Depot, and some modifications that enable it capable of holding a painting, and render it to feel less like a piece baseboard and alot more like a painting frame, I feel it is a success.
 The finish I envisioned for the frame to my Cape Buffalo almost happened easily. Well, it did. I just knew when I looked at it this morning that it deserved to be pushed a little further. So, second attempt is a triumph. I feel it really has the feel of some elements of the painting without distracting from it.

The Finish
The dots or circular patterns in the finish are created by painting a darkish color base,(in this instance, a dark, almost black, brown.) when this dries, I used a silvery metallic was over the base. Quickly, while this layer is still wet, splatter denatured or rubbing alcohol ( I used my hands for control) with any instrument of your choice. The alcohol kind eats, or lightly removes a subtle amount of the top layer. I blow dry it to hurry it along and increase the dramatic effect of the technique. Before completely dry, blot off the excess alcohol evenly over the surface, creating even more effect and evening. Cool! I am very happy with it.

The Painting
So, here is the finished result.
A Cape Buffalo, intimidating and staring down the viewer, as to inquire of his next move. Forward? I think not.
I call this painting "Impasse."

"Impasse"
Cape Buffalo
24" x 36" oil on canvas
See more of my work @ http://www.bhensler.com/

Relaxation and Inspiration in the Uintas.

This past weekend Allison and I camped and hiked in one of our favorite mountain ranges. The west end of the Uintah mountains are only about a 30 minute drive from Kamas. They offer a truly incredible array of high mountain vistas and what seems like hundreds of lakes- many just off the side of the road!

The beautiful starlit sky in the uinta mountains.

 As many may know, Allie and I are, for some unknown reason obsessed with finding Moose in our travels. 

a neighbor of ours, as well as several web sites state that the Christmas Meadows trail had many Deer and Moose along the trail- so regular that they're "almost tame."

 In summary, we saw no Moose. We did see beautiful and lush sub-alpine forests of Spruce and Aspen trees, huge rockslides and more dead fall than I have seen during any of my excursions in and around Utah.

Reflection.

Lots of deadfall.

Huge boulders in this rockslide must have made a

thunderous earthshake when it occurred.

This HUGE Mushroom looks like one from a fairytale.

Keeping the feet dry.

The Living Planet Aquarium's "Journey to South America"

When The Living Plant Aquarium's ribbon-cutting ceremony commenced, and the public was set free to roam it's beautiful and wonderous halls, I felt a big smile on my face that was, among other things pride. Proud of all of the work that was offered to me, and that I feel I executed with much life and vigor. And, also quite pleased to be a part of this wonderful organization of biologists, educators, volunteers, and a great management and marketing team that keeps them running efficiently. Although not officially under TLPA's employ, I feel like one of them. 

This exhibit also nudged me to break into some uncharted and exciting new creative territory. For example, the faux Mayan stone (shown at left) effects was something worked out by Brent Anderson and Tony Layne from the aquarium. And I got to figure out how to create the illusion of  ancient, hand-carved heiroglyphs and other elements by carving out of a high-density foam. Then, Tony would coat the carvings with a thin layer of cement, and finish with a sprayed coat of colored stucco. I put the finishing touches on by "staining" the stone with thinned paint and some airbrushing. Then, by some details of painted moss and lichen.

Anyone that knows me, knows how much I enjoy fishing. That being the case, this Amazon Peacock Bass was a real treat to paint!

An "above/below" style of mural is something I have always wanted  to create. Although this took several weeks to complete, I see new things I would really like to add to it even a year later!

This mural displays the imense diversity of life teeming in the amazon river basin region of South America.

When I'm not painting murals...

I have zillions of opportunities to CREATE ! When I am insprired to paint; perhaps not on location, or in a patron's home, I am more than content with a cup of joe, an audiobook playing on the pc, and a blank canvas or masonite panel in front of me. This Gemsbok is part of a series of African game wildlife I am working on. The surface is heavily textured with gesso, some drywall mud, primer and a trowel. In more recent years, I have a tendency to overwork every square in of the surface. Thes painting are intented to feel more rough, and possibly old or antique. So, after a session of paiting has dried, I'll add layers of a burnt umber glaze, and sometimes "rolling" some wrinkled plastic sheeting over the image to resemble a leathery finish. Here it is as it looks now. Close to completion.

"Gemsbok" (work in progress)- oil on panel