International Artists Day - Wildlife Artist Robert Bateman Inspires Me by Deborah Boyet Artist

International Artist Day - I am celebrating the life and art of Internationally renowned wildlife artist Robert Bateman!

I am excited to participate in the celebration of International Artists Day. Every October 25th they celebrate artists around the world. As part of the AIG and DPIAG group we decided to pick the artist that has most inspired us. In my case that would be the world renowned wildlife artist Robert Bateman.

He is a wonderfully gifted artist, and here is my story. I had been a decorative artist for many years, as well as working a regular day job to support my family. While working for a t-shirt printing operation in 1992 I stumbled across a magazine I had never seen before. It was Wildlife Art News.

From the earliest time I remember I loved animals. My trips to the St. Louis Zoo were magical, and I lived for Mutual of Omahas Wild Kingdom on TV every week. I was enthralled, and wanted so much to be a part of that life, however I grew up in a practical family, with practical parents who had no time or interest in the whimsy of a little girl. I grew up believing that life was for someone else. So you can imagine my surprise, and excitement when I saw the magical paintings of so many wonderfully gifted artists in the magazine. I immediately suscribribed, and over the course of time one artist in particular stood out. That would be Robert Bateman.

His work is so realistic you feel like you can reach out and touch the animals, and the world in which they live. Every leaf, blade of grass, and field of snow can be felt. The animals are magically transported into my life. I read every article written on Mr. Bateman, and have been impressed as over the years he has given back so much to the world that he feels has given so much to him. He is very generous with his conservation work, and gifts of art, and is an active conservationist. I have never been fortunate enough to have studied with him, and as he is advancing in age, I fear I will never even have the chance to meet this larger than life person who has so inspired and changed my art. I do however collect the books that exhibit his art, and speak of his wonderful vision for changing how man perceives the gifts God has given for all to see and share.

So, on my first day of celebrating International Artists Day, my wish is to pass on to those around me the wonderful visions of wildlife artist Robert Bateman.

Please visit his website to view his work and conservation missions, and also stop by International Artists Day website as well.

On this special day, I hope you take time to stop and enjoy your journey in life my friend, and inspire the life of someone else as well.

International Artists Day

Robert Bateman

Please visit my website, my blog, or my AIG and DPIAG galleries to view my available works of art....including wildlife art!

Please email me with inquiries or questions, and thanks for stopping by!

Lotus Kanji -Completed by Deborah Boyet Artist

Lotus Kanji

8x12 Watercolor on Arches Board

Original $300

Giclee $50

Original or Giclee

Original $300.00 Giclee $50.00

I have completed numerous Kanji paintings in the past, mostly with Koi fish in them. I enjoy the Japanese beauty in their words, and their culture. They enjoy magical beauty in their environment. I hope you enjoy this as well.

I will post some of my past Koi and Goldfish Kanji paintings that are still for sale, either in print or original.

Thanks for stopping by. Please visit my website or my blog galleries  to view other work for sale.

Email with questions or inquiries.

Lotus Kanji - Work in Progress Update by Deborah Boyet Artist

Lotus Kanji

8x12 Watercolor

Work in Progress

This piece is close to being finished. I still need to add detail to a few petals, deepen some shadows for depth, and deepen a few background areas for effect. I have not decided if I will tint the Kanji "lotus". I am going to test it in Photoshop first. This piece will be offered for sale, as well as Giclee' prints.

I have a few other pieces started including a butterfly, before I can start on some of the photos from my trip. It is a shame we had a tight schedule traveling, and there was no time for plein air. I am thinking about taking a travel nurse contract in the NE next year so I can paint on location.

Thanks for stopping by. Please visit other works for sale on my website and my blog.

Please email me with inquiries or questons.

Take time to enjoy your journey in life, my friend.

"Walking above water like a fairy

Wearing a red hairpin

Fresh from a bathe in the Hua Quing pool

With a rosy cheek from drinking."

~ Caixing (Zhang Cuiying)

Lotus Kanji - Work in Progress by Deborah Boyet Artist

Lotus Kanji I

Watercolor 8x12

Work in Progress

Lotus and waterlilies have elegance and vibrant colors. The petals are semi-translucent, which produces such beautiful shadows and the veining is attractive.

This is the first in a series of Kanji paintings with lotus and waterlilies. A few years back I did a series with Koi, and will likely do some more soon.

As always thanks for stopping by. To view other works for sale, please visit my website,

or my blog, galleries.

Please email me with inquiries or questions.

Today is a perfect Indian summer day, with the cooler nights, and warm days. I am enjoying them while they last!

Cotton Watercolor Painting by Deborah Boyet Artist

Dixie Delight

Cotton Series I - Art for License

5”x5”

I love the way cotton in a field looks when it is ready for picking. We often joke about our "Southern snow". The hard shell covering the cotton, and the leaves turn beautiful colors of brown and gray.

This is #1 in a series for license. There will be a minumum of 4-6 in this series. For information on license please email me.

Please stop by my website and my blog galleries to view other work for sale.

Bluebird Watercolor Painting Completed by Deborah Boyet Artist

Visitor In My Garden

6x10 Watercolor on Arches Board

Original $175

Giclee $50 (edition size 150)

Original & Giclee'

Original $175.00 Giclee $50.00

I love painting birds. They are one of my favorite animals of God's creation, with their cheerful spirit, and chatty sing-song in my yard. I love to watch them splash in the birdbath, and feed from the feeders.

Below is a close-up of this sassy, little bird.

Thanks for stopping by. You may view other works for sale on my website and my blog.  Email me if you have any questions.

I am touring NE for two weeks, gathering photos, and ideas for new landscapes. The weather is gorgeous, and we will be in Vermont tomorrow. The fall season passes so quickly, and before we know it, there will be snow flurries and the flurry of holiday activities, and gatherings. So I can honestly tell you that I am taking time to drive the side roads, whereever they lead, enjoying the scenery, and taking brief moments so I may lock them away in my memory, to enjoy on a cold, or lonely day...I am enjoying my journey in life. I hope you do as well, my friend.

Magnolia Watercolor Batik by Deborah Boyet Artist

Southern Beauty III

Watercolor Batik 14x18

Original $300

Open Edition Prints $20

Original or Open Edition

Original $300.00 Print $20.00

I love to paint watercolor batiks! They are magical, soft, yet they have an unsurpassed vibrance, due to the translucent rice paper. And the rice paper is so attractive with the fibers that absorb more of the color.

The beautiful white blooms of the magnolia are long gone, but there is one more attractive gift they leave behind. The buds are fibrous, and produce brilliant red seeds when they burst open, giving the magnolia exceptional beauty into the fall.

I hope you enjoy this rare view of a magnolia, and as always enjoy your journey my friend.

Please stop by my website, my blog, my AIG or DPIAG galleries to view other works for sale.

Please email me with inquiries, or questions.

"Every good painter paints what he is." ~Jackson Pollock

Work In Progress - Use of Figure 8's in Design by Deborah Boyet Artist

Ready for Picking!

Work In Progress

12 x 16Watercolor on Arches Art Board

I have added a lot to the grapes in terms of depth and layers, and they are close to completion. I filled in the lower right corner to balance values on the left side of the painting, and to keep it from drawing too much attention away from the grapes. I will need to complete the stems and grape details and will likely fill in the stem on the lower right of the painting. Right now it is very distracting. The completed painting will be one for my series I am submitting for license.

I like to break the borders in my paintings. It adds interest, and is a great way to lead a viewer into a painting. However, if you are not careful, it can also lead a viewers eye right out of the painting. To prevent this, I keep the border breaks lower in contrast values, and often use figure 8's in my design to keep the viewer moving through the piece. In a copy of the image below I have put in the general figure 8's to show how they make movement. Go back to the one without the figure 8's and see if you can now see the movement and how it helps keep your eye from leaving the painting. The grapes on the right are incomplete and will stay that way until I finish the main painting. I will then complete them. I want to be able to keep them balanced and slightly less attractive, again to keep them from being too much of the focus of the painting. If the contrast is too high, they will become the center of attention. I will also need to add some sort of path from the main grapes to the ones in the border break on the right.

Design is so important in a painting. I don't always succeed in getting it right, and quite frankly, I often break the rules if it feels right, but it is a very important piece of planning, and remains a focus while I paint.

Figure 8 examples

There are three sets of figure 8's in this painting. Many more can be found and used, and it is easy with grapes to visualize this. As the painting continues to develop, I plan on using a cruciform or X as my main design pattern. This will be accomplished with the darker greens in the leaf/background area. I have not decided yet where I will cross the grapes.

I work slightly different in that I have a general plan, but also look for alternate ideas as the painting develops. Being flexible with my plan helps me get through difficult passages, and allows me to easily change my course.

Please stop by my website, my blog, my AIG or DPIAG galleries to view other works for sale, or to check out my use of design.

Please email me with any inquiries or questions.

Thanks for stopping by.

This is "World's Best Friends Week" so take time to stop and give your friends a hug, or if they are far away, then a virtual hug and a kind word will do!

"A friend is one of the nicest things you can have, and one of the best things you can be." ~Douglas Pagels

Camellia Oil Painting by Deborah Boyet Artist

Kalmia Gardens II

Oil 12 x 12 x 1.5

Original $225

Giclee' $75

Another in my series of Camellias...if you haven't guessed by now, I really love these flowers. I look forward to them every winter. They are the only thing blooming, and here in the South, they are everywhere! This piece has won several top awards. The reds are lovely, and the greens of the leaves are inviting, exquisite, and continue onto the sides of the painting.

Original & Giclee'

Original $225.00 Giclee' $75.00

Visit my website or my blog to view other works for sale.

Please email me with inquiries or questions.

Thanks for stopping by and enjoy your journey in life, my friend.