Sachuest Point National Wildlife Reserve Visitors Center, Rhode Island, 2012
Three painted murals each measuring 6 feet wide by 11 feet tall that serve as the new backdrops for exhibits at Sachuest Point. The paintings are "habitat zones" or vertical slices of specific habitats found at the National Wildlife Refuge. The large colorful paintings add movement, life and context to the exhibits that teach the visitor about our plants and animals and their dependence upon healthy habitats. |
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| Below and in close up, these show the central area of each mural and changes to the paintings. In Sandy Beach, I added cobble stones above the wrack line and a nesting plover. In Wetland Marsh, I lowered the waterline to expose the mud bank. The grasses are warmer, browner in late summer rather than spring. The great white egret is larger and positioned differently. In Grassland/ Shrub, I warmed the colors to move the season later into the fall. Although the paintings are separate individuals, they connect to each other through the clouds, the horizon line and color balance. |
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Grassland Mural at Connecticut Audubon Society Center in Pomfret, 2012
Painting measures 9 X 11 feet and shows a healthy New England grassland, with native plants and animals in central Connecticut. Animals include red fox, Eastern box turtle, Northern harrier, red tailed hawk, bobolink and meadowlark. Monarchs and bumblebees surround the flowering milkweed at meadow's edge. |
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Closeup of Meadowlark
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Closeup of Monarch on milkweed
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Wet Feet
2 feet wide by 4 feet wide oil, 2008.
The painting shows geese stepping from shore into water as the lead goose, swimming, directs the group. I feel the work shows a process of motion, such as multiple repeating images with slight change create moving stills. Yet I also feel each individual bird and its bit of character. The rippling water reflects the motion. |
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Amazon River
Staten Island Zoo, NY
28 feet wide by 6 feet high plus ceilings and skylights
acrylic, 2007.
This painting for Staten Island Zoo’s newly renovated Reptile Wing, sets the scene of Amazon River, the lush South American Rainforest. The tropical woodland habitat creates a simulated river’s edge, compatible with the fabricated mud bank. A path through the woods leads the viewer to side walls which show a continuation of the “river”. |
Sonoran Desert
Staten Island Zoo, NY
35 feet wide by 9 feet high in acrylic, 2007.
The painting depicts Southwest United States, the ideal environment for animals native to that area on exhibit at Staten Island Zoo’s new Reptile Wing. The saguaro cactus, painted life-sized, serves to minimize architectural features such as the corner and the doorway.
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Southeast Asia
Staten Island Zoo, NY
20 feet wide by 4 feet high in acrylic, 2007.
Native plant species such as large ferns and bromeliads create curves and breaks that draw the viewer into the scenery. Life sized painted plants create an intimate scene for the viewer as well as for the python on exhibit |
Click image to enlarge - large file download
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| Our Living Bay at Save the Bay Center
Save the Bay - Narragansett
30 feet wide by 10 feet high in acrylic, 2006.
An idealistic under and over water cross-section of Narragansett Bay habitats. The painting features 50 native plant and animal species in life-size scale. The underwater habitat transitions from shallow sandy water on the left to rocky deeper water on the right. Read more here
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Otter
Point at Trustom Pond National Wildlife Refuge
US Fish and Wildlife Service
8 feet wide by 2feet high in acrylic, 2002.
The image shows the negative impact of invasive plant species
upon native plant species in a scene at Otter Point. This
painting will be used as a part of interpretive signage.
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Bears' Den Cafe Mural, East Wall
Buttonwood Park Zoological Society, New Bedford, MA
30 feet wide by 11 feet high in acrylic, 2001.
Located in the Wildlife Education Center, the East wall
is one of four painted walls that comprise the full mural
of a New England woodland. Shown are three black bears climbing
on a rock outcropping. 36 birds, mammals and invertebrates
are featured for the visitors to discover in the life sized
painting.
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Wetland
Marsh at Wickford Cove, RI
This 4 by 8 foot mini-mural was the model for instruction for the mural painting workshop I taught in the summer of 2003 at University of Denver. The objective of the painting is to convey realistic depth in a well composed landscape, with the sharpest details in the foreground and lesser detail as the scene progresses back in space. |
Barrier
Beach Mural
Buttonwood Park Zoo, New Bedford, MA
40 feet wide by 9 feet high, 2000.
Located in the Aquatic Environmental Center, this mural
provides the background scenery for the fabricated dune habitat
and is designed to create formed dunes and the illusion of
wide open space despite multiple walls. Exhibit features shorebirds
and saltwater fish.
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Woodland
Stream Mural
Boston Museum of Science, Discovery Center, Boston
27 feet wide by 9 feet high in acrylic, 2001.
Located in the Discovery Center on three walls, this mural
of a New England woodland stream sets the scenery for the
3D fabrication of a flowing stream. Children and adults are
encouraged to identify and discuss the 13 animals or evidence
of their activity found in the painting of this native habitat. |
Sachuest
Point Mural
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Sachuest Point National Wildlife Refuge
Middletown, RI
27 feet wide by 11 feet high, acrylic, 2000.
Located in the auditorium of the Visitor's Center, the
mural features over 40 species of migratory waterfowl that
are commonly seen at the refuge in winter. The painting educates
and informs nearly 30,000 visitors who enjoy the refuge's
seasonal waterfowl, trails and sweeping coastal views
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