Welcome to the Wild Heart Gallery's Artist Invitational 2022!
Artists for this exhibition were selected by lead juror/curator Sarah Soward to lead the launch of Wild Heart Gallery's vision for wildlife and animal art. The gallery shows and promotes a range of genres and art movements all having animals as their subject matter. These artists are excellent representations of just a handful of art styles and expressions that the gallery welcomes.
The virtual exhibition officially opens on August 15, 2022. Any art sales are handled directly by the artist.
Click on an image to enlarge it. Scroll down for information on each artist.
ASHLI KINGFISHER
Images from left to right: Untitled 1 and Untitled 2
Ashli Kingfisher has exhibited in the U.S. and abroad. An exhibition of note was a solo exhibition at Vitrina NYC along with a coloring book and art book release. She created a mural for the National Audubon society as part of their ongoing Audubon mural project. Her work was included in Wildlife of The Highlands touring exhibition which was displayed at the Patterson Museum, in June 2015. In 2014 she successfully crowd funded a project including a trip to Sumatra Indonesia to spend time drawing and documenting Sumatran Rhinos, of which there were less the 100 left in the world, culminating in a coloring book and art book which was released September 2015. Ashli is a recipient of The Gamblin Paint Prize and The Ivan Madjrikov Award. Ashli has a background in veterinary science and anthropology.
Kingfisher employs caricature/mannerist approach to her portraits of the natural world. She works largely as a painter and limner (one who draws). Ashli draws from the history of painting and the documentation of nature as her way to cope with watching the natural world die.
Ashli Kingfisher lives and works in Salt Lake City, where she contemplates the Anthropocene. She is popular with animals and an obvious witch.
See more of Ashli KIngfisher's work: ashlikingfisher.com
Contact the artist: Send an email
SHARON EISLEY
Images from left to right: Strength, Attached, Empathy
Sharon Eisley's unique art showcases our human experience and animal natures using traditional techniques woven with the symbolism and beauty of magical realism. Eisley breaks us out of our paradigms, just as her paintings carve into and break out of their own frames.
Sharon Eisley writes, "I paint to try to capture a timelessness or emotion, a notion of the other, and of our human and animal natures. My animal-headed people and obscured faces are then vehicles to carry that idea. Traditionally our cultures painted zoomorphic images to represent spirituality, aspects of God, a timeless force, and its intersection with humanity. These chimeras capture the awe of the viewer with their strangeness. In the same way, my magical realism acts as symbolic reflection of that journey. I hope my paintings tap into this Mystic as modern-day totems residing in their everyday existence, just as we are individual spiritual people living odd and normal everyday lives."
See more of Sharon Eisley's work: sharoneisley.com Contact the artist: sharoneisley.com/who
MICHAEL DOERING
Images from left to right (above): First Light, City Boy
Image: Why Are They Here?
Michael Doering called the West home for much of his adult life. With its endless stream of characters, stories, and inspiration, his art evolved into a reflection of his experience in the shadows of the Sierras coupled with an upbringing in rural Iowa.
Born in Mason City and graduating from the University of Iowa with a BFA in drawing and printmaking, he detoured on his artistic journey by moving to Las Vegas and ultimately to Reno, Nevada, where he worked as a teacher, counselor, and school district administrator. After picking up his paintbrushes again in 2018, he soon developed a following around the globe for his work, and his art has been included in numerous gallery exhibitions.
Michael creates in an expressive style with not as much desire for pure realism as in capturing the emotion and energy of his subjects.
He resides in Reno with his wife and three sons and in addition to his artwork, he is passionate about the outdoors, tai chi, and boxing for fitness.
See more of Michael Doering's work: michaeldoering.com
Contact the artist: michaeldoering.com/contact
SHAWNA HINKEL
Images from left to right: The Thinker, Feeling Blue, An Old Soul
Shawna Hinkel is an award-winning photographer from Dallas, Texas. She received her Certification from Professional Photographers of America (PPA) in 2014 and her Master of Photography degree in 2019. Her work has been accepted in the PPA International Photographic Competition Annual Exhibition every year since 2016, with images published in the annual Showcase Collection and Loan Collection books as well. She was the Dallas Professional Photographers Association Photographer of the Year in 2017 and 2018, and was named as one of the Top 10 photographers in Texas in 2020. She also received the American Society of Photographers’ State Elite Award in 2020. She has won a variety of other awards, and has been featured in multiple art gallery exhibitions.
Shawna Hinkel writes, "It has been said that “the eyes are the windows to the soul,” and I have found this to be true. Not only in people, but also in animals - most especially in the great apes. My series “Almost Human” explores the eyes and expressions of these magnificent creatures, looking for the souls in our most closely-related counterparts. Chimpanzees, gorillas, and orangutans are so much like us that if you spend a little time with them, you can almost tell what they are feeling. Some are young and playful, some are old and wise, and some are shy and do not want to be bothered. They all have very different personalities and spirits. I want to show the heart of these beautiful animals so more people can find a deeper understanding and affection for them, and learn more about the conservation efforts in place to help them. What a better world it would be for man and apes alike."
See more of Shawna Hinkel's work: wanderlustfineartistry.com
Contact the artist: wanderlustfineartistry.com/contact
BONNIE SOL
Images from left to right: Storm Coming, Honu World, Hawaiian Stilt
From the artist, "It starts with an experience, a feeling, and a subject. I’m drawn to the way light surfs the waves, the way sunset streaks across the sky, the way wind blows through the palms. From the boldness of the distant mountain as it rises above the clouds, to the intricacies of a flower as it opens to the sun, I find myself compelled to pick up a paint brush."
See more of Bonnie Sol's work: bonniesol.com
Contact the artist: bonniesol.com/contact
CHER PRUYS
Images from left to right: A Captured Moment, Ndova, Sea Turtles
Cher Pruys, ASAA SCA, IGOR, AAPL, CSAA, AMS, LMS, OSA, MAA, CFA, NOAPS, AWA.
"To take my inner visions with my hands and create a work of art for you the viewer .... That is the ultimate in self expression."
Cher Pruys was born in Regina. Over the years she lived in many places including Saskatoon, Calgary, Edmonton, Ottawa, Fort Frances, settling into her present home in Devlin, on the banks of the Rainy River with her husband Mark, 4 dogs, and 2 cats.
By age three, Cher was seldom found without a drawing tool in hand. She worked in pencil, charcoal, and ink over the years, until she picked up a paintbrush at the age of 35. Beginning with oil paints, she found her chosen mediums in acrylic, water color and gouache.
Although self taught, her dedication and talent has seen her work juried into 202 International exhibits, as well as exhibits in numerous non-juried shows. She has won 227 awards for her work in International Juried Exhibits.
Her work has graced the covers of 3 books, 32 magazines, including The Best Of Acrylic Fall 2021, the latest the cover of the May 2022 Arabella Magazine. She has been featured in over 162 international publications. Cher's works have found a permanent home in private and public collections worldwide.
See more of Cher Pruys' work: artbycher.ca
Contact the artist: artbycher.ca/contact
TORIE HILLEY
Images from left to right: Bruce, Elephant, The Rally
From the artist, "I am an award-winning wildlife photographer and professional artist with images published in National Geographic and Remembering African Wild Dogs. Several of my paintings, photography, and Limited-Edition Art Prints are in private collections and galleries around the world. My work has supported wildlife through online exhibitions like, Artists for Painted Dogs, that occurs annually.
"Born and raised in California, I’m originally a predator researcher and conservationist who worked throughout Southern Africa for several years. But I have seen the power of the visual arts to spread awareness of endangered species and have now dedicated my photography and artwork to wildlife conservation."
See more of Torie Hilley's work: toriehilleyfineart.com
Contact the artist: toriehilleyfineart.com/pages/get-in-touch
SOLVEIG KARINA NORDWALL
Prismacolor colored pencils / I work for ocean conservation and education.
See more work by Solveig Karina Nordwall: Facebook Page
Contact the artist: Send an email
SARAH SOWARD Lead Juror and Curator
Images from left to right: Red Tara, Communal Stripes, Empathy, Apapane Watching
Sarah Soward is the lead juror and curator of Wild Heart Gallery. She is also an internationally-known contemporary wildlife artist. Soward uses color symbolism and contemporary Surrealism to tell stories with her art.
See more of Sarah Soward's word: sarahsoward.com Contact the artist: sarahsoward.com/pages/contact