Artist's return to painting wildlife rewarded with award
Bernie Glasby, a Brainerd wildlife artist, started oil painting in seventh grade but eventually quit because of the cost.
In 1998 he began sketching animals and, after a 16-year absence, started working with oils again. "Although I was a little rusty," Glasby says, "I was convinced I still had some talent for painting."
Glasby entered paintings in Minnesota's 1997 wildlife stamp competitions for turkey, trout, pheasant and duck. In 1998 he won the Reserve Champion award at the Crow Wing County Fair for a painting of a whitetail buck. Last summer, at the insistence of fellow artist and friend Cathy Dunham, Glasby entered two paintings in the Wild Honesty International Juried Art Show on the Internet. Glasby's painting of a pheasant won the Juror's Choice award. "It was a proud moment for me when I realized I could be successful competing against artists from around the world," Glasby said.
For the painting in this photo, Glasby drew inspiration from a photo of Canada geese taken by Brainerd wildlife photographer Bill Marchel. He began the painting on the Fourth of July, 2000, and completed it March 6.
In addition to Dunham, Glasby said he draws inspiration from artists Terry Redlin, Les Kouba and Bev Dolittle. He said he would like to enter more wildlife stamp contests and that he is looking for a printer to produce prints of his work. In the meantime, he plans to continue painting local scenes and landmarks. "I like to create a mood of warmth and familiarity and capture moments that people will remember when they see my paintings," Glasby said.
Glasby lives in Brainerd with his wife, Toni, and their two children, Sarah and Christopher.