The Meadowlark Nature Festival has partnered with internationally acclaimed wildlife artist Terry Isaac.
A tinge of irony is the fact that Isaac was discovered by famed Canadian artist Robert Bateman while painting another image of bird.
“It is interesting, that one particular painting kind of changed my life,” said Isaac.
It was while taking a workshop in Montana 25 years ago that Isaac’s Golden Eagle piece was noticed by the world-famous wildlife artist Bateman.
“He put me on the map as an internationally known artist,” said Isaac. “He suggested that the company that publishes his work, his limited edition prints, that they publish my work and they did. I was with them for about 20 years so it gave me exposure all over the world. He is responsible for my career as an artist. I was an art teacher before that.”
Isaac will be the featured artist for the 2013 festival which runs from May 16 to 20 and has donated a painting titled On The Fence, featuring a Western Meadowlark on a fence post that can be found on the west side of Penticton. The artist found his passion for wildlife growing up in the Willamette Valley of Oregon.
Drawing inspiration from his own backyard and from the captivating vistas of the Northwest, he began to create dramatic wildlife art. He has called Penticton home for the last six years, and, since moving, has continued to create paintings capturing unique characteristics of wildlife and their habitat. Isaac travels the world to capture exciting images, but his main painting focus continues to be on North American birds and mammals.
“There is something about the artistic depictation that really elevates the festival,” said Sally Kilburg, chair of the Okanagan Similkameen Conservation Alliance, who organizes the festival. “Our alliance with Terry, and the artists every year, is so important to us. It is not just so we have the face of the Meadowlark but for us the art is integral to the entire festival.”
Isaac will also be featured at a month-long exhibition at the Penticton Art Gallery that starts during the festival. The painting will be raffled off as a fundraising device with all money generated going right back into next year’s Meadowlark Festival.
The festival itself will offer over 90 environmental tours and events.
The launch of public ticket sales begins April 6 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Shatford Centre. Tickets will also be available online at www.MeadowlarkFestival.bc.ca starting at 2 p.m. that same day. Anyone that interested in volunteer can email chair@oscra.org.
