Archive

Hometown: Pittsburgh, PA

Yelena Lamm was born in Saint Petersburg, Russia, where she received her formal art training at the N. K. Roerich Fine Arts School. Since 1995, she lives in Pittsburgh, PA. Yelena is painting primarily in oil. In her lively and colorful portraits of pets and animals she loves to reflect on her subjects’ characters and personalities. Yelena’s works were selected for and won awards in juried group exhibitions, including Oil Painters of America (OPA), Society of Animal Artists (SAA), and National Oil and Acrylic Painters’ Society (NOAPS) national shows. She was a finalist in the 15th ARC Salon and semi-finalist in the 16^th ARC Salon. Her list of awards includes recent Most Original Award of Excellence in OPA 2023 Eastern Regional Exhibition, and Outstanding Achievement Animals in AWA 2023 Annual Online Juried Show.

Britain’s most popular magazine for practicing artists, Artists and Illustrators, featured Yelena’s animal portraits in a 6-page article and on the cover of their June 2023 issue. Yelena’s works are represented by galleries and acquired by collectors in the U.S. and abroad.

Hometown: Fairborn, OH

Christine Clayton began drawing and painting waterfowl and other wildlife at the age of 5, and entered her first conservation stamp contest at age 8. In 2012, she accomplished her dream of winning the national Junior Duck Stamp Contest along with state and national awards in Wildlife Forever’s State-Fish Art contest. In 2015, Christine became the youngest artist to win the Ohio Wetlands Habitat Stamp Competition, and in 2017, she placed 3rd in the nation’s most prestigious conservation revenue stamp program, the Federal Duck Stamp Contest. She continues to enter conservation stamp contests, create new wildlife pieces, and enjoys a new-found skill for pet portraits.  Christine is looking forward to a promising future in the realm of wildlife art.

A self-taught artist, Christine enjoys a variety of outdoor activities. She is also an avid reader, pianist, photographer, and enjoys gardening and spending time with family and friends. She has been blessed to share her artistic endeavors with her father, Matt, and sister, Sarah, who are also artists, along with her mother, Darlene, who is her biggest supporter. Now married, she loves hiking, fishing and exploring the outdoors with her husband, Ben. She is thankful for her God-given talent and for the heartfelt advice and support she has received from her family, friends and fellow artists over the years, and hopes to share and instill the values she has learned in this journey with others.

Hometown: Boone, NC

Clayton Pennell is a naturalist, conservationist, and contemporary wildlife artist. His high-impact art portrays animals in a new light, focusing on form, design, and motion in what many in the art world consider a form of abstract realism and natural pop art that has deep ties to classic sporting art. He developed this distinctive style during his time as a hunting and fly-fishing guide, where he was able to hone into the detailed design and tones of wildlife. His work inspires the imagination, as his vibrant art invites the viewer to use their memories from the field to construct an interpretation of the animal that is as unique as the painting itself. Clayton’s work has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for conservation and his work has sold to art collectors across the globe. As a true believer in conservation, he has dedicated a portion of all profits of his art sales to go towards conservation efforts. Clayton’s studio resides in the Blue Ridge mountains of western North Carolina.

Hometown: Easton, MD

As a Wildlife artist I have participated in shows across Canada and the United States
The South Eastern Wildlife Exposition, Charleston, South Carolina
Art of the Animal Kingdom, Bennengton, Vermont
Plantation Wildlife Show, Thomasville, Georgia
Art In The Woods, Jamestown, New York
Buckhorn Fine Art Show, Buckhorn, Ontario
Galleryb, Lexington, Kentucky, Morrision Gallery, Chicago, Illinois

My specialties are my portraits whether it be animals or people plus the painting of water.

To me, a painting has to capture the drama and personality of the subject. I have learned so much about our natural world since I have begun studying wildlife. I have also discovered the abundance of wildlife I hadn’t ever noticed in my own backyard: Deer, Blue and Night Herons, Cardinals, Blue Jays, Red Tailed Hawks, and Owls are just some of the few.

On my parent’s Cape Breton property I have discovered the Bald Eagle, Herons, Deer, hawks and owls, along with King Fishers, Loons, Seals, Osprey, Bob Cats, Coyotes, and Whales.

My current passion is painting animals in water. I love the abstract quality of reflections, shadows and the pulse of the sea.

To some, art may be a hobby, a passion or even a career, for me art is my life. I take pride in every piece I produce and strive to learn and perfect my technique as I continue to explore the natural world around me.

Hometown: Leesburg, VA

Lori Goll is a painter and lover of nature. Vast natural vistas (sea or land), birds, animals,
and trees, rural and bucolic scenes are the subjects of her paintings. Her primary medium
is soft pastel.
After studying engineering at Virginia Tech and working in telecommunications for several
years, she decided to pursue her true calling as an artist. A constant learner, she has
studied painting, drawing, and printmaking with both regional and internationally-known
artists.
She has attended travel workshops with many professional artists, including Kevin
Fitzgerald, Richard McKinley, Lou Gagnon, Casey Klahn, Steven Walker, Danni Dawson,
Kurt Schwarz, Mike Francis, Gavin Glakas, Trisha Adams, Antonin Passemard, Anastasia
Dukhanina and Loriann Signori.
A teacher herself (both privately and through the Great Falls School of Art), she is
committed to constantly learning and trying new media, techniques, and subject matter,
and encourages students in her workshops and classes to do the same.
Lori has participated in numerous solo and group shows and has received many awards for
her work. Her work resides in many private collections around the world. Her home
studio is located near historic downtown Leesburg, Virginia.

Hometown: Elmore, OH

Although Jean Gidich creates her drawings in traditional ink and graphite, the use of line and form are anything but conventional.

Jean’s love for both art and wildlife began at a young age and he began college as a zoology major. She later changed her concentration to studio art which resulted in a BFA in drawing, painting and printmaking with minors in animal science and art history.

After a year as an independent artist, Jean went back to school and received another degree in Art Education.

She began to teach as a supplement to her young family’s income with plans to return exclusively to her studio in a few years.

Fast forward 30 years and she is still teaching studio art to young adults. Her commitment to creating successful adults through the challenge of hands-on art practice continue. Through the years, Jean continued to produce work and strengthen her skills with daily studio practice and graduate work.

Originally a multimedia painter, 4 years ago a student gave her some pens with the statement, “I can’t wait to see what you will create with just this simple pen.” Not one to refuse a challenge, she picked up that pen layering thousands of marks that came together to form a larger than life Great Grey Owl.

Since that first drawing, Jean hasn’t stopped portraying both animals and people in her unique active line approach. On close inspection, her drawings contain names, and other symbols that hint to her intention for each piece. Her subjects are chosen from all walks of life paired with creatures that help tell her story. All the work she creates is autobiographical and how she views the world around her. She invites you in… one line at a time

Hometown: Hebron, MD

John has been painting since he was a teenager. John attended the Kansas City Art Institute and the Maryland Institute College of Art – graduating Magna Cum Laude in 1981. John’s paintings have won numerous awards and have been accepted into many exhibitions regionally and nationally. Just since 2021, John’s awards include: “Harbor Award” Paint Annapolis in 2023 and 2024, “Best Water”-Shadows on the Teche, La, Harford Maryland Plein Air Festival “Best of Show” 2023 and 2022 Artists’ Choice and “Spirit of Maryland” award, “Best in Show” at Adkins Nature Center in 2022, “Best in Show” at the Coastal Virginia Plein Air Festival in 2021, “Artist Choice” at the St. George Island Plein Air Festival in 2021, Best “River” painting in 2021 and best “Nocturne” award in 2022 at the Gloucester Arts Festival, 2nd place at the New Bern Plein Air Festival for 2021, 2022, “Best of New Bern/Beaufort” in 2023 and 2024, “Spirit of the Adirondacks” award at the 2021 Adirondack Plein Air Festival. John’s work has recently been accepted into the national juried exhibitions of the Oil Painters of America (OPA), American Impressionist Society (AIS) and the National Oil and Acrylic Painter’s Society (NOAPS). Recently, in the June 2022 Plein Air Salon Magazine – John was awarded the “best Plein Air Landscape”. He is a member of the prestigious, historic Washington Society of Landscape Painters.  John also writes narratives of his plein air adventures and has been published in Plein Air Magazine.

Hometown: Milford, DE

Richard Clifton was born in Delaware in 1961.  He lives on a historic family farm adjoining the Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge, where he is surrounded by inspiration for his art.  He is a self-taught artist who has chosen acrylics as his medium.

Waterfowl being one of his favorite subjects, he has gone on to paint 54 duck stamps from various states, including the 1996 Australian Duck Stamp and the 2007-2008 Federal Duck Stamp.  Recently he won the 2020 Federal Duck Stamp Contest with a painting of a Lesser Scaup drake.  This is his second win in the Federal and the image appeared on the 2021-2022 stamp.

Richard’s work has been displayed in many of the top wildlife art shows throughout the country, including the Southeastern Wildlife Exposition and the Easton Waterfowl Festival.  He was honored as the featured artist for the Easton Waterfowl Festival in 2022.  Richard’s work has been chosen several times for the D.U. National Art Package.  Also, he has been named D.U. Artist of the Year 4 times and is the first to win in back-to-back years.  He has appeared in the documentary the “Million Dollar Duck”, and on “D.U. TV” in an episode about his Wildlife Art, Conservation efforts and Waterfowl hunting on his farm.

He is a casual birder and an avid hunter of waterfowl, deer and upland game and uses his experiences in the field as inspiration for his work.