Hues Art Supply April 2025 Gallery Showcase

I had the immense pleasure to host a gallery showcase at Hues Art Supply in April 2025. This is my first gallery show, and it was an excellent learning experience and opportunity.

For this showcase, I mostly painted with oils, with some graphite drawings to round out the show. I wanted to focus on native Saskatchewan birds because I’ve always loved birds and Saskatchewan has an amazing biodiversity that I believe is worth preserving.

All photo references I used were either from local Saskatchewan photographers or photos I took myself.

Enjoy!

Bald Eagle

24x60 Oil on Canvas

Eagles have always been some of my favourite birds. They're so regal and feel like a remnant from an ancient age. It's always a treat to see one in the wild.

Thanks so much to Tyler Schwark (@theschwark) for his permission to reference his incredible photography.

Dark Skies over Clearwater

24x48 Oil on Canvas

This storm came through in the late afternoon a couple summers ago. The clouds and colours were so amazing to watch (from safely inside the cabin).

Fat Birb Winter #1 - Cedar Waxwing

16x16 Oil on Canvas

I know the classic waxwing looks very sleek and svelte, but I just love when birds get all puffed up to stay warm. So fluffy!

This is referenced from a photo by the incomparable @corinnes.corner - her bird photography is just gorgeous!

Juvenile Loon

12x18 Oil on Canvas

We came across this little loon while plein air painting out at Gem Lakes. When you're sitting still, sheltered by trees, slowly painting a landscape, sometimes the wildlife comes to you.

Peregrine

21x29 (framed size)
Graphite on Arches paper

Another incredible photo reference by Diane Taylor. I just love Peregrines - they've been one of my favourite birds since I was a child.

Whiskeyjack

18x24 Oil on Linen

Whiskeyjacks (or Wisakedjak [Cree]) are such audacious birds. I loved having them around our campsite. They're so full of energy and mischief, and they're bigger than I expected, around the size of a blue jay. They're also known as "camp robbers," and if you've had one around, it's not hard to see why.

Photo reference by Lauren Nobel-Lang

Fat Birb Winter #2 - Blue Jay

18x24 Oil on Linen

I didn't know jays puffed up like this until I saw this photo from @corinnes.corner - so cute!

Chickadee

11x14 Oil on Canvas

Can't get over how cute and fluffy these little birds are. They're the centre of many songbird flocks, and they're such a joy to watch. The tell-tale calls are one of the first ways I learned to identify them as a kid.

Reference photo by @corinnes.corner

Chickadees on a Branch

21x29 (framed size)
Graphite on Canson Mi Tientes paper

Chickadees will always hold a special place in my heart. The Chicka-dee-dee-dee from the trees is just such an endearing sound.

Peregrine Falcon

18x24 oil on Canvas

I was absolutely struck by the impact of a photo by Diane Taylor, I absolutely had to paint it. The feathers were a special challenge, with there being so many of them in so many different colours.

Young Rufous Hummingbird

12x16 oil on Canvas

I stood outside for so long holding the camera to catch this shot of a little rufous sitting on a branch, waiting for a turn at the feeder. These little birds don't stay still long!

Grey Jay (Whiskeyjack)

11x14 Oil on Canvas

These little birds quickly worked their way up into my list of favourites this year. Not only are they beautiful, but they are also so full of personality!

Reference photo by the lovely @corinnes.corner

Grizzled Veteran - Magpie

21x29 (framed size)
Graphite on Canson Mi Tientes paper

We came across this grumpy, war-torn looking magpie flitting around the Forestry Farm, and I was able to capture a few shots. What battles have you seen, oh magpie?

Great Horned Owl

21x29 (framed size)
Graphite on Fabriano Tiziano paper

I love owls. I always have. One of my first large drawings was of a taxidermy great horned owl in an art class I took in elementary school, so it felt fitting to come full circle with this piece for my first show.