" In wildness lies the survival of the world"
Henry David Thoreau
The paintings reproduced in this portfolio are a selection of work taken
my recently completed watercolor series of wilderness views and wildlife
studies. The series, based on our endangered natural environment, consists
of sets of watercolor images done on site and studio work from my travels
to the Everglades , the Southwest, the Rocky Mountains and the Alaskan Frontier.
My work reflects my mutual affinity and affection for both art and nature.
My response to views of specific natural environments are developed with
equal concern for form and content so that art expresses nature and is not
an end in and of itself. The major concept in this ongoing series of paintings
is to express a spirit of place in which a kinship and highly personal relationship
between the artist and the essence of the natural world is communicated
directly to the observer.
It seems ironic to me that unless society changes its priorities my paintings
of the flora and fauna of our natural world will probably outlast many of
the species and environments represented.
Journal Notes
Florida Bay, Everglades, Florida
2/25/92
Took boat up Buttonwood Canal to mouth of Ponce de Leon Bay via wilderness waterway.Saw nesting bald eagles,ospreys, spoonbills and sea turtles. Boat was followed by dolphins. Did w/c of red mangroves with spoonbill.
Mouth of Suwannee River, Florida
2/23/92
Canoed out from Manatee Spring into mouth of river surrounded by bald cypresses, very clear water. Saw lots of turtles, jumping mullet and water moccusins. Did w/c of cypress trees in water.
Long Pine Key, Everglades, Florida
2/25/9
Biked through slash pines, saw palmetto and saw grass Everglades to Royal Palm. Saw lots of alligators, anhinga with young in nest, great and little blue heron, wood storkes, white ibis,common gallinule and fishing osprey. Did w/c of great egret. Note, this area was devastated by hurricane Andrew later that year.
Devils Garden, Moab, Utah
4/22/92
Drove camper through Arches National Park to view natural display of arches, windows, towers and balancing rocks in gorgeous environment of deep canyons and high mesas. Did w/c of skyline arch, had to stop in middle to wait out local squall.
Miette Hot springs, Jasper, Alberta
6/29/92
Hiked the Sulpher Skyline Trail (6.4 miles). Finished hike with good soak at hot springs. Did w/c of young bull elk along trail. Shared lunch with pikas at summet (6,'10 ft.). Very steep climb with 2,1JO ft. elevation gain. Sighted bl,ue grouse above tree line.
Mount of the Holy Cross, Colorado
7/28/93
Headed up Notch Mountain trail with heavy backpacks. 3eautiful wildflowers above tree line. Very steep trail, loaded with switchbacks all the way up to North Mountain (5.8 miles,13,123 ft. with over 3,000 ft. elevation gain). Had lunch at shelter then did w/c of Holy Cross. Suffering altitude sickness.
Black Hills, South Dakota 8/5/94
Took loop road through Custer State Park. Pulled off onto four-wheel pass
to do w/c of large herd of bison moving across praire towards the Black
Hills.
Thomas C. Leary is a professor of Art at Salem State College, where he has
taught studio art courses in drawing, painting, and printmaking for the
last twenty-seven years. He received his M.F.A. degree in painting at the
California College of Arts and Crafts. He is presently doing research for
his forthcoming trip to the Himalayas.