Robert_Bateman

My favourite artist is Andrew Wyeth. He has inspired my work as I mentioned to u/Spiel_Foss. But I am also influenced by abstract artists such as Fraz Kline and Clifford Still. I am also influenced by Canada's Group of Seven ) and Tom Thompson.

Once I have been influenced by an artist I see the world, as I move through it, partially through their eyes. For example, a rail fence might make me think of the powerful black strokes of Kline. I will photograph it and perhaps use it in a future painting, as I did in my painting "Redwing-blackbirds and Rail Fence". The large empty skies in several of my paintings, such as "Cheetah Siesta" and "Circus Train", were influenced by the abstracts of Marc Rothko. My view of Autumn in Ontario is enhanced by the work of the Group of Seven.

OK we were in New Zealand and we had been put shore on this little island. There was a steep cliff (maybe 20ft high) with a field above it. I was sitting drawing the shoreline at the bottom of the cliff and some cows were up in the field on the the fence line. My wife was walking up the field from the other side, which spooked the cows. She had no idea they were there. They went towards the edge of the cliff and one fell/jumped over the slight overhang (which broke off). The cow fell over the cliff, just missing me by a meter or so. The cow landed on its feet and seemed fine. I was fine to.

(Note from transcribing son: TIL my Mom could post a TIFU called "TIFU by almost crushing my husband with a cow". Now that would get some upvotes!)

Thank you for your question. I don't have a favorite painting. It's like asking who my favorite kid is (I have 5). I generally like the more challenging once better than the, "easy pieces" Generally speaking I like predators: Hawks and owls, wolves and lions. It may be a guy thing, but I think they have better shapes. The beaver is basically a boring brown blob. (sorry Canada) However it's a much more admirable symbol than the bald eagle.

Hello! Thank you for reminding me of Frank Smith. A wise and gentle person who was a role model for a good human being. I have many happy memories of the "Brodie Room", not open to the public on the 4th floor of the Royal Ontario Museum. I was a serious bird carver before I was a serious painter, but they both came along around the same time. The pinacle of my bird carving was a Screech Owl (Owl faces are hard!) I did as a gift for my mother, in the late 1950's. The most important thing we can do is to vote for politicians who care about preserving and protecting nature. If this means paying higher taxes, and paying more for products, so be it. "There is no free lunch" We can pay now, or we can pay later, but if we pay later, it will cost a lot more.

Ha Ha great photo! Any artist worth their salt paints what is important in their life. Nature and wildlife is the most important thing in my life (next to family). "Chief" is a bison I saw in Wood Buffalo Park, Alberta. I got out of the car and took a couple of steps toward him. He took a couple of steps toward me. So I quickly got back in the car and took that shot. It is the largest painting I have ever done: 6'2" x 8' I donated it to the NMWA because it is the best showcase for wildlife art and I have had a warm relationship with the Kerrs (who started it) for many years.