MASTERWORKS IN MINIATURE

I was hoping to draw yesterday's contest out for a day or two, but Clare of The House correctly identified the subject as a Long-tailed Meadowlark (Sturnella loyca), a mere two hours after my posting it. John Carlson requested and received points for giving the common name of the bush, Calafate, though for all I know, it was a big bluff. Clare will receive a pencil drawing of a Gyrfalcon, and John, Ashok and the rest of you will have another opportunity down the road.

On a completely self-serving note, Gallery One in Mentor, Ohio will kick off their big annual miniatures show, Masterworks in Miniature, on Friday, March 6th with a reception from 7 to 9pm. Intents-to-purchase can be filed at the gallery or on line, and the public drawing for purchase rights will take place on March 21 at 5pm. Two-hundred original paintings are on offer, including my Golden Pheasant painting (above) .

While I'm in self-promotion mode, permit me to brag a bit about being named a "Master Member" of the Society of Animal Artists. There are 12 of us: Charles Allmond, Chris Bacon, Gerald Balciar, Robert Bateman, Carl Brenders, Carel Brest van Kempen, Guy Coheleach, Bob Kuhn, Walter Matia, Leo Osborne, Mort Solberg and Kent Ullberg. This designation was established last April, but I just got the nice surprise a couple of weeks ago.