Description
“Scolding – Chickadee and Screech Owl” – 11 1/2″ x 23 3/8″ – Edition of 2500 – Call for price
“The Scolding” depicts one of those small domestic dramas that we all encounter every now and then; the only difference is that this is a wilderness drama. The chickadees are ‘mobbing’ or ‘scolding’ the screech owl, who had tried to hide deep in the boughs of a tree during the day. Chickadees, however, are so little and delicate that the word ‘mob’ really doesn’t seem to fit them. Birds very often mob owls, partly because the owls are a threat to them and partly because owls are at rest during the day. After discovering a predator such as this owl, the birds will all come around and scold it – jumping and fluttering and making noise – so that everyone knows where the owl is concealed. Visually, I was most intrigued with the latticed background of this scene. It was so lively, in fact, with its snow-festooned branches, that I used strong contrast on the chickadees; they would not otherwise have popped out from the background. I chose a close-up view of the scolding to emphasize the unfolding drama.”
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.
