My new original for the Celebration of Wildlife Art 2012 in Kenai Alaska is well on its way. I got a little behind last week as I was very sick. We think that I caught a case of the Norwalk virus that is going around, not fun stuff. On a more pleasant note I am back in the full swing of painting again and I am very happy with the way this painting is turning out. I had a little trouble deciding on which way I wanted to approach doing the tree-line, but eventually I focus on one attach and went to town on it. Tomorrow I will start building the trees up and then concentrate on the Totem by weeks end. I will be sure to post more in the next couple of days. I am a little disappointed that I did not film this painting for one of my how to paint DVD, it would have made a perfect “start to finish” title. Oh well, next time. Happy painting everyone.

Later Winter Newsletter

PTP-Derek C Wicks Enewsletter

Looking Forward to Spring

I do not think it matters where you live in this world, we all can agree it has been a very mild winter for us all. Even though this winter has been very mild, I am still ready for spring to come and see the colour to the foliage return. I think it is funny how I love the coming of the winter in November, December and then long to see it go come end of January to the beginning of February. In this Enewsletter there are several exciting updates to tell you about so lets get to it! This email can also be viewed on-line at my blog. Read this Enewsletter on my blog

Whats On The Easel At this point there is actually several paintings that are on the go. First is my painting of the North Shore of Lake Huron. I have been working on this painting here and there between commissioned pieces for some time now and it looks like it will be bumped again for other jobs. The second painting in works is a piece for the Celebration Of Wildlife Art 2012 show in Kenai, Alaska. I have been asked to paint two or three paintings for this show that will run from June 1 to September 3, 2012. The piece I am working on right now is a raven flying through the forest past a Haida totem pole. I have wanted to paint this painting for a long time and I am very happy to have the chance to finally work on it. Be sure to visit my blog regularly over this summer as I will be very busy painting commissions for the Algonquin Show, Michelle & Fidel Singh, Collen & Dave Stewart and plan on posting the progress of each painting every couple of days. To read the first entry of the totem pole painting visit my blog at my wildlife art website. Alaska Research Trip A Go In my last Enewsletter I broke the news of my inclusion in the Alaska research trip to collect reference for the "Visions Of The Boreal Forest" show at the Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian, well I have the itinerary, 6 weeks of hell (lol). I am a member of both the Alpine Team and the Kobuk Team, what can I say, I am a gluten for punishment. This trip is such a once in a lifetime honor and opportunity that I figured I would bite the bullet and push the limits traveling the full 500 miles of the trip. The trip will start with a helicopter drop in the Kobuk Mountain range and end 500 miles down river in Kotzebue Alaska. The trip will range from traveling the alpine rapids by canoe to paddling the Grizzly filled shores of the Kobuk river and end with a maritime paddle of the coast in the Bearing Strait. Below is the simplified itinerary of the trip. 1. July 25: Alpine team put in on Noatak (could be the same or a bit later - Aug 1 - for any of the recon contingency options) 2. August 7: Kobuk team put in on Kobuk at Art Mortvedt's cabin (water level allowing). Secure place to wait for Alpine team 3. August 7-9: Rendezvous 4. August 9-10: Continue downstream on Kobuk: no rapids, no portages 5. August 30: Arrive Kiana, AK 6. September 7 +/-: Arrive Kotzebue, AK 7. September 7 +/-: Return by scheduled air service to Fairbanks, AK 8. September 7+/-: Celebratory dinner Fairbanks, AK 9. September 8 +/-: Return flights to points south Here is a link to a Google maps page that shows the trip stops: Alaska Trip Map. I will also be landing in Alaska a few days early to make an appearance at the Celebration Of Wildlife Art 2012 show in Kenai, Alaska. Making this trip just short of seven weeks long! I can not wait to go, I am like a small child waiting for Christmas! I plan on presenting my trip in a video / slideshow at my studio during the Images Studio Tour. I want the people who have supported me over the years to be the first to see the trip and the ideas I have for the paintings to be made from the research trip. I will post more info closer to the show in October. BARRIE, ON - ART INSTRUCTION WORKSHOP I have received a lot of emails requesting a local workshop in the Barrie, ON area. I am in the process of trying to acquire a space in Barrie to conduct two separate workshops, one on moving water and the other painting "Into The Briar" snow piece. I am hoping to book something in the June to July time frame. If you have any requests on different workshops or would like to be added to the contact list for one or both of these workshops contact me by clicking here. Add what workshop you would be interested in taking in the "comments" area of the contact sheet .Your name , email and phone number are the only other info required. I will post info to both the wildlife art website and the how to paint website as information becomes available. Happy Painting {!firstname}!