Description
Off the Leash by Robert Bateman
(14-3/8 x 22-1/4; Offset Paper; Edition Size 950; $245.00 U.S.) (18 x 28; Giclee Canvas; Edition Size 180; $695.00 U.S.)
“From an early age , I decided I that although I grew up in a big city and would always
enjoy visiting cities, I would live in the country so that I could walk out my door and
immediately be in nature. A dog that is reasonably well trained is a wonderful companion
for walking in the country. I can’t count the the happy hours that Smallwood ( our Labrador
retriever with a Newfoundland grandmother ) and I spent exploring the fields and forests
near our home or cottage. Joey Smallwood, by the way , was the first premier of
the province of Newfoundland when that British colony joined Canada in 1949. The Premier
was a bit of a rabble rouser, but our dog was mellow yet enthusiastic and most important
for roving in nature, he was quite obedient. For this reason , I was comfortable to walk
with him off the leash. Of course, he would always be ahead in the direction he guessed
that I would go, but he continually checked back to make sure that he was on the right
track. If I had felt it necessary to hike with him on a leash , I know that we both would
have been frustrated. In this painting I have shown him briefly lying down, waiting for me
to catch up. I felt that the delicate forms in the little grove of hemlocks made a good
counterpoint to the solidity of Smallwood’s sphynx-like figure.”
Robert Bateman
Biography
Robert Bateman has been called the most famous living artist. He continues to paint and tour the world to promote conservation and preservation of nature. We have represented Robert Bateman for decades and are now the sole publisher and distributor of his reproductions. We are so honored to work with him and witness his success. He has made such a massive contribution to the art world and the natural world as an artist and educator of the earth’s most important resources.
Nature as a subject is becoming more and more popular as our environment is in peril. What better subject is there than the beautiful creatures we share this world with? Robert Bateman’s appreciation and understanding of nature are apparent in his paintings. He is able to paint flora and fauna the way your eye would perceive it in real life. It is important that the animal takes full attention. The background becomes muted, and therefore it doesn’t take too much focus away from the subject. His paintings seem effortless and masterful all at once.
Bateman’s eye for composition is unparalleled. Each painting is a composed like a symphony, leading the eye to wander. From the backyards of North America to the sprawling plains of Africa. Robert Bateman captures nature the way it should be enjoyed. Above all he is a champion of wildlife. For this reason he has become a household name for art collectors.
