Feature Articles


November Issue 1999

Wildlife Artist Bob Travers to Show at Wickwire Gallery

Internationally recognized wildlife artist Bob Travers, well-known for his captivating paintings of wildlife and for his limited edition prints published by Applejack Art Partners, will be having his very first show in his home state at the Wickwire Gallery, Hendersonville, NC, from Nov. 5 thriugh 28.

Travers' will be at the opening reception on Nov. 5 (5-8pm) to personalize two special show posters, On Eagles Wings or October's Harvest. An extensive collection of Travers' originals and limited editions will be on display for the entire show and he will be making two more special personal appearances to meet admirers and sign posters. Travers' will be appearing on Sat., Nov. 6 from l -5pm. and on Sat., Nov.27 from 11am to 3pm. On Nov. 6 he will also be doing painting demonstrations.

Travers, who lives only a short distance away from Hendersonville, is very excited to be having a show so close to home. He moved to NC just a few years ago, but truly feels that he is at home, both personally and professionally. He and his family love their beautiful and tranquil surroundings, and Travers has found that it has been very liberating for his art.

The artists' love of wildlife and nature in his art extends back into his early childhood. He grew up including both of those loves into his work. After graduating from the Pratt Institute in 1975 with a BFA, he got away from painting wildlife and spent about ten years as a very successful commercial illustrator in New York City. However, his love for the beauty of open spaces, led him away from the hustle and bustle of commercial art to pursue a career as a full-time wildlife artist. His extensive travel and photographic research combined with his undeniable talent quickly garnered him success in that field.

Now that he lives in the beautiful mountains of NC his research doesn't need to take him as far as it used to. Today for inspiration, he needs simply to open his back door. As always, Travers works exclusively in oils because he feels that they provide him with greater flexibility as he paints. His home now provides him with extensive opportunities for observing and photographing things he would like to paint, and it has provided him with an opportunity to branch out artistically. Because the environment he lives in is so conducive to creativity he has expanded his subject matter to include rural landscapes, farm scenes and equine art, although the cornerstone of his art remains wildlife.

Travers' lifelong love of wildlife and nature have given him a desire to, through his art, be involved in conservation efforts nationwide. The Minnesota Deer Hunter's Association, a conservation group dedicated to educating children and adults about animals and their habitat, has named him the Artist of the Year on two occasions. Travers has also been named the Artist of the Year by the Wisconsin Timber Wolf Alliance where the sale of the Conservation Edition print of his painting The Journey Home helped to put over forty wolves back into their natural environment.

Travers' appreciation of the beauty of the natural world and his enjoyment of people have always led him to share his work with others, whether through his conservation efforts or through shows like the one at Wickwire Gallery Fine Art/Folk Art.

For further information check our NC Commercial Gallery listings or call the gallery at 828/692-6222.

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