Description
Sudden Blizzard Red-tailed Hawk – 20″ x 33 1/2″ – 950 Edition Signed and Numbered Paper Print
“This is a picture of a storm — a sudden blizzard. I enjoy all kinds of weather, depending, of course, on my activity. Sunny skies are fine for a little while, then, I long for some clouds. I like fog and rain and even storms. An exhilarating thing to do is to go for a hike in a blizzard . . . properly attired, of course. You know then that you live in the real world where nature is in command. Too often in our society we have built impermeable screens between us and the planet earth. We live in climate-controlled apartments, offices and vehicles. We watch nature on television. I think that it is very important to keep in touch with the sights, sounds, smells and feeling of the real earth, even if it means some discomfort. In fact, pushing our senses a bit helps us to realize that we are truly alive.
I saw that a blizzard was starting one particular winter day, so I put on my parka and boots and headed out to experience it. It was one of those sudden squall line storms that accompanies a cold front and hits hard and fast. Very exciting! Big splats of snowflakes soon plastered my clothes and skin. I could hardly breathe, and when I did, I was breathing in snow. I hiked to my favourite pine tree which was also being plastered with the heavy, wet particles. The tree had already been sculptured by the prevailing northwest wind. It was full of dynamic rhythm, even on a still, windless day. Now the storms and the weight of the snow pushed it even further in the same direction. The lee side had not yet received the snow.
In this painting, I wanted to portray a storm rather than a bird or a tree. I wanted you to feel the pressure of the snow-laden atmosphere. Air is not ‘nothing’; it is a reality which can be physically very imposing. I tried the flying hawk in many places in the composition and found the most exciting place, just about to be blown out of the lower left. He made a mistake taking flight in such a storm. Perhaps he was caught by its suddenness on an exposed perch. He is in a lot of trouble but may be able to turn and beat his way upwind to the shelter of the lee side of the tree.” – Robert Bateman
Sudden Blizzard Red-tailed Hawk is available
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.
