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ArtTRUST - Which subjects are your favorites, wildlife or landscapes?
Wes - Wildlife! I absolutely love painting the wildlife I encounter in the field. I'm especially attracted to birds of prey and songbirds.
ArtTRUST - Do you paint wildlife because of the inspirations where you live, or did you settle there to paint wildlife?
Wes - My main inspiration for painting wildlife comes from direct field observation. My home area of South Florida abounds with wildlife year round. I hope to someday move into the Smoky or Shenandoah Mountain regions both as a career move and simply to be overwhelmed again with fresh inspiration.
ArtTRUST - What is special about your watercolor techniques and how long have you been perfecting them?
Wes - I've been working in watercolors as a professional for ten years. Individuals are always amazed that I can create what I do using watercolor. It would certainly be a lot easier to paint in my style using acrylics but I prefer the "look" of the watercolor.
I use normal watercolor techniques with the addition of an opaque white gouache. I tend to build numerous layers and play transparent glazes against opaque regions to achieve the vibrancy in my colors. I also use an airbrush to soften many of my backgrounds.
ArtTRUST - Do you try to copy scenes as you find them or create them from your imagination?
Wes - Many artists take great offense at copying photographs and prefer to create ideal scenes in their work. I choose to copy my field experiences for two reasons.
1) They serve as a record from a conservation standpoint to an actual reality. You can actually locate my settings off trails in parks or places that I have visited. I edit the image somewhat but I prefer to keep it as close as possible to what I actually witnessed.
I'm saddened by the loss of viable habitat for wildlife. We couldn't imagine living every minute of our lives in just one house, yet many individuals believe wildlife will manage just fine if we leave a few parks scattered here and there.
2) I hope my "copy" inspires individuals to visit and preserve the actual location represented in my painting while it still exists. Several of the areas around my home were the last known locations of now extinct species.
I just recently finished illustrating a book on the Florida Panther- another species that more than likely will go extinct soon in the next century unless it's habitat is preserved and expanded.
ArtTRUST - Who or what inspired you to become an artist and paint?
Wes - I have always enjoyed painting but notable influences would have to include- my high school art teacher, Mike Borders; a college watercolor instructor, Robert Johnson and numerous other wildlife artists that continually inspire me to this day
ArtTRUST - If you had to summarize your goal as an artist, how would you say it?
Wes - I would have to say my primary goal is to help protect the natural world. I am also aware that many individuals may never encounter a particular species except through my art so I try to be very faithful to the subject and setting.
I've never aspired to create great art simply for art's sake. Hopefully, by my life's end, I will have contributed in some degree to the quality and scope of wildlife art. My success has already been achieved since I am able to make a living doing what I love!
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