Don Balke (NC,b 1933) gouache painting 133253

Description: ARTIST: Don Balke (North Carolina, born 1933) TITLE: Michigan Wolverine and White Pine (titled on verso) MEDIUM: gouache and watercolor on board CONDITION: Overall good. ART SIZE: 12 x 14 inches / 30 x 35 cm BOARD SIZE: 16 x 20 inches / 40 x 50 cm SIGNATURE: lower right NOTE: This art was originally published in the limited edition collection of philatelic proofcards issued by Fleetwood and the National Audubon Society for the Wildlife of the 50 States. Indian devil, skunk-bear, Evil One and glutton all describe the squat, surly Wolverine. Slinking through Michigan's forests on short bowlegs, the Wolverine looks like a small bear. Heavily built, with shaggy dark hair, he readilys displays sharp claws and powerful teeth. Unusually cunning, the brown-furred predator plunders traplines, steals the bait, ravenously consumes it and then hides the traps. For the gluttonous Wolverine, the trapper's food caches are welcome treasures. He gorges himself on the stolen food and, in thanks, sprays the remains with strong smelling musk. To supplement his thievery the Wolverine hunts. Even though the Wolverine is quite small in size, he can tote a carcass three times his weight for distances over a mile. In lazier moods this ferocious relative of the badger, skunk and otter just climbs a tree and waits alone for rodents or rabbits to come to him. Except for brief family obligations, the antisocial Wolverine spends much of his time alone. After a short spring mating season, females bear two or three woolly babies, taking care of them until the fall when it becomes each Wolverine for himself. Their childhoods end abruptly, and the youngsters soon learn to avoid their natural enemies, including man. Today it seems man may be gaining the upper hand, and the Wolverine has almost disappeared from North America. Even in Michigan, the Wolverine State, the animals are rare, but occasionally they can still be seen sneaking through the White Pine forests. PROVENANCE: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. LOCATION: This lot is located at our Dania Beach, FL office. CATEGORY: old antique vintage painting for auction sale online AD: ART WANTED: Consign, Trade In, Cash Offer SKU#: 133253 BIOGRAPHY:Balke, the youngest of ten children, grew up on a farm in northern backcountry of Wisconsin. His family was completely dependent on the land; they tapped trees to make maple syrup; used crosscut saws for logging and horses for their farmwork; they raised crops for themselves and as income. His upbringing instilled in him a love of nature and wildlife. He received his first art award in a Wisconsin state-sponsored art contest while at elementary school for a painting of a black bear roaming in the woods. After serving in the US Army, he married Barbara Schernick and they moved to Chicago where he enrolled in the Academy of Fine Arts, now known as the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. During his time at the Academy, he specialized in still-life paintings. After graduating, he was hired by a Chicago illustrating studio and eventually moved back to Wisconsin where he worked as a commercial art director. He won many awards for his work as an art director and illustrator. On his own time, late in the night, he painted and developed his skills as a wildlife artist. After 17 years, he left his work as an art director to devote himself completely to watercolors and wildlife art. By 1979, they had six children and a home in the village of Thiensville, Wisconsin. Balke's love of nature took him to the NC mountains where he bought 200 acres in McDowell County and built a home. In 1985, a gallery was added and the Don Balke Wildlife Gallery was opened. In 1987, his work was chosen as the illustration for the official NC Zoo poster. In 1992, the United States Post Office issued a series of first-class postage stamps portraying five different species of hummingbirds designed by Balke. Balke travels to Africa, Australia, Ireland, the Caribbean, and across the 50 United States for inspiration and research. His wife, Barbara Schernick Balke, does extensive research on the animals and their habitats in preparation for the paintings and does much of the photography on research trips. He is best known for his detailed and realistic watercolor paintings portraying wildlife in their natural environment. In 2000, he transitioned to a more impressionistic style with oils portraying scenes from Yosemite National Park in California, Ocracoke Island on the Outer Banks, and Grandfather Mountain in North Carolina. CLICK HERE TO ADD ME TO YOUR FAVOURITE SELLERS LIST.Our prices are based on the value of the artwork by itself. 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Price: 649 USD

Location: Dania, Florida

End Time: 2024-12-15T23:24:16.000Z

Shipping Cost: 79 USD