Dear Zach Wildlife Art Collector,

It’s been an eventful year at Zach Wildlife Art. With our new home-based office, we now have a 30-second commute! Prairie, woods, birds, and deer are now right outside the window. Larry will now have more time to paint and research, our main goal in tackling this major change.

Larry has been painting one day each month at the new Bass Pro Shops in Altoona and has enjoyed talking with visitors about his artwork. Contact Bass Pro Shops to find out when Larry will be painting in 2010.

We held our first post-gallery open house during Thanksgiving weekend at Stoney Creek Inn in Johnston, just off I-35/80. It was a great success! Thanks to those made it out and escaped the Black Friday stampede at the malls to view Larry’s new artwork in peace. Watch the website for future events. You can also call to make an appointment to see new releases, to select framing, or to pick up artwork at our home/office/studio in Ankeny.

We are happy to announce the release of a new painting for the new year. Here’s some background on the new release, Evening Solitude – Rocky Mountain Elk, in Larry’s words:

“The original inspiration for this painting occurred on a February reference trip in Yellowstone. It was very cold and we’d been exploring the high country, looking for painting ideas and gathering reference material all day. As dusk approached it started snowing again. I don’t recall being able to hear any sound. The landscape was hauntingly beautiful. I captured as much as I could until it finally got too dark. On the way down I pondered what I’d experienced. There seemed to be many different ways to try to capture the scene in a painting. The three bulls moving silently through the landscape enhance the feeling of tranquility, leading to the piece you see here.”

Click to see large image

Evening Solitude - Rocky Mountain Elk (Limited Edition Classic Canvas, Box Frame)

Evening Solitude is available in two limited edition canvas sizes, as well as two open edition canvas sizes. All four editions are high-quality giclée canvases. Larry does all the color-proofing and printing of these canvases in-house, so that we can guarantee only the highest-quality reproductions. When you see these canvas prints in person, you’ll be shocked to find how much they look like an original painting.

The largest size canvas of Evening Solitude – Rocky Mountain Elk, and the most limited in number, is theMaster Canvas, measuring 17″ tall x 30″ wide. The standard Master Canvas edition has a size of only 100 and the Artist Proof (AP) edition only 25. The other limited edition is the Classic Canvas. This edition replaces the standard paper print edition and measures 13″ tall x 23″ wide. You can now obtain your established print number, matching your existing Zach collection, in the new Classic Canvas limited edition at no additional cost. There are only 850 canvases in the standard Classic Canvas edition and only 125 in the AP edition.

Normally you would expect to pay a significant premium for a giclée canvas over a giclée paper print. Well, we have great news for our collectors… With the recent gallery move, we have trimmed our overhead significantly, and we are passing on these savings to our collectors. The standard Classic Canvas edition is priced at $145, the same price as past standard paper prints, and the Classic Canvas AP edition is only $175, also the same price as before. We have also been able to reduce the price of the Master Canvas standard edition Evening Solitude from $425 to $295 and the Master Canvas AP edition from $495 to $365.

For those looking to fill a smaller spot on the wall, or for a great gift idea, we have two open edition giclée canvases available, the Encore and Decorator sizes. See all editions framed on the back of this letter.

Orders can be placed by email at info@zachwildlifeart.com or by phone at 515-964-7872. Don’t hesitate to call if you have any questions.

Wishing you health and happiness in the new year,

Marcia Zach

Click to see large image
(Once image opens, you may need to click it again to magnify it.)

Framing Options: Evening Solitude - Rocky Mountain Elk

• Open House and Art Show 2009!
• Sneak peak of Dream Bucks III
• Release of new elk painting, Evening Solitude
• New line of sepia artwork

Open House and Art Show 2009

Stoney Creek Inn is a nature-themed lodge right off I-80, close to malls and theaters. Also, our 2009 Open House presents a great opportunity to visit the new Bass Pro Shops in Altoona. Larry has been painting once a month at the store since they opened. Make the 2009 Zach Open House part of a perfect weekend getaway of Christmas shopping!

Highlights

• Release of Dream Bucks III – Midwest Monster
• Release of new elk painting, Evening Solitude – Rocky Mountain Elk
• $25 off framing on any limited edition art purchase
• RSVP online for a free gift or discount coupon!
• Forward this email to a friend. When your friend RSVPs and attends the open house, you’ll receive an extra gift!
• Daily drawings for artwork prizes

Sneak Peak of Dream Bucks III

Dream Bucks III — Midwest Monster is the third image in the Dream Bucks series, which features some of the world’s
most impressive whitetails.

It follows Dream Bucks I — Hole in the Horn Buck and Dream Bucks II — The Missing Trophy. Featured in Dream Bucks III is the huge, non-typical buck taken by Kyle Simmons on October 16, 2008 in Eastern Iowa. This buck was Kyle’s first deer with a bow and was featured on the January 2009 cover of North American Whitetail magazine.

Scoring 275 5/8, it is our new Iowa state record archery nontypical, and the third largest nontypical whitetail in the
world ever taken by bow and arrow.

New elk painting, Evening Solitude released

“The original inspiration for this painting occurred on a February reference trip in the Rockies. It was very cold and we’d been exploring the high country, looking for painting ideas and gathering reference material all day. As dusk
approached it started snowing again. I don’t recall being able to hear any sound. The landscape was hauntingly
beautiful. I captured as much as I could until it finally got too dark. On their way down I pondered what I’d
experienced. There seemed to be many different ways to try to capture the scene in a painting. The three bulls moving silently through the landscape seemed to enhance the feeling of tranquility, leading to the piece you see here.” – Larry Zach

New line of sepia artwork

Larry has begun painting a new line of sepia paintings with a variety of subjects. These paintings will be available as originals and open edition canvases. See them first-hand at our 2009 Open House. The canvases will be available to take with you, framed and ready for Christmas gifts.	Moose
Just Bluffing?	Best Friend — Kitten
Best Friend — Brittany	Mountain Man

Did a friend tell you about the Open House? And you’re not already receiving our postcards or emails? Make sure to list your friend’s name under “Referred By” so they’re eligible for the Tell-A-Friend discount.

Click here to RSVP!

During the five days at the store, we met many of the employees, all whom displayed great hospitality, and we visited with thousands of awestruck customers coming for their first visit to see the impressive displays and decor. We also had the added privilege of meeting John Morris, the founder and CEO of Bass Pro Shops, during the special Conservation Evening event.

We look forward to working further with Bass Pro Shops in the future, so keep your eyes open for more demonstrations and partnerships.

Here are the studies:

Mountain Man Study

Study of April Zach and Patches the cat

Oak tree study

Study of Molly the dog

Larry and charging elephant study

1000 Bass Pro Drive NW
Altoona, IA 50009
Phone: 515-957-5500

August 26 – 30
Mon-Sat 9:00am – 10:00pm
Sun 10:00am – 7:00pm

• Originals
• Paintings in progress
• New products
• Watch larry paint on site

Map:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=41.6597,+-93.5147+(Bass+Pro+Shops)&sll=41.659459,-93.515608&sspn=0.008929,0.01929&ie=UTF8&z=15&iwloc=A

Website:
http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CFPage?storeId=10151&catalogId=10001&langId=-1&appID=94&storeID=71

• Online shopping for framed artwork with photos of every product
• Integrated Larry’s blog for updates on paintings on the easel and other adventures
• Photo and video sections to document painting research and travels

We hope to have the new site online in September so please come back, check it out, and let us know what you think.

Larry and I are excited to invite you to ArtFest Midwest THE OTHER ART SHOW the weekend of June 27-28, held at the Varied Industries Building on the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines. This is our first year exhibiting at this popular, annual art show. Now that we have moved out of the gallery we will be able to meet old and new collectors at a variety of events such as this.

Here are some more details for the show:

THE OTHER ART SHOW
June 27-28, 2009
10-6 Saturday, 11-5 Sunday
Iowa State Fairgrounds
Varied Industries Building
Website

HIGHLIGHTS

• Iowa’s Largest Fine Art Show! Seventh Annual!
• Same weekend as downtown art show!
• An Alternative, Affordable Juried Fine Art Show!
• Free Admission/Parking—Park at Fairgrounds for Both Shows!
• Free Shuttle to & from Des Moines Arts Festival!
• ALL NEW! “Fire-Works”–A Welding Sculpture Demo!
• 200+ Iowa and Midwestern Artists!
• “KidzDuArt!” area with “Create-a-Puppet”
• Silent Auction of Art Work (proceeds to benefit Orchard Place, an organization serving troubled youth in central Iowa)

We will be have some show-only special prices available. Stop in to see some of Larry’s recent works and paintings in progress.

Hope to see you June 27 or the 28 at the show!

Marcia

To all nature lovers and dad lovers! Zach Wildlife Art has a special deal for you and that special man in your life. Here are the details:

• Purchase a framed open edition giclee canvas (new product!)
• We send you not only the framed canvas, but a FREE gift for dad
• We ship it to you FREE, too!

We think this is such an exciting offer that we produced a new video to tell you all about it. Click the play button below to see if Larry’s artistic talents extend to acting!

(Click “HD” in the YouTube player to watch the video in high-definition.)

So, what did you think of the video? Doesn’t Larry look good cooking in camo? (We want as many people as possible to see the embarassing outtakes, so please forward this email to your friends!)

Which type of dad do you have? Check out the free gift options below:

How to order:

All orders must be received by Monday, June 15 to insure delivery by Father’s Day, June 21. However, this free gift and free shipping offer is available through Tuesday, June 30 [updated date] Sunday, June 28 for those that don’t need the gift before the holiday. Don’t delay!

Here are 5 easy steps to making 2009 the perfect Father’s Day for your dad:

1. Which size canvas? (Decorator or Encore)
Decorator framed size: About 13 1/2″ x 17″
Encore framed size: About 17 1/2″ x 23″
2. Which image? (see choices below)
3. Which frame? (F5 or F6 for game Decorators and Encores, F11 or F6 for songbird Decorators, see examples below)
4. Which free gift? (see photos of gifts above, see links below for more details on each gift)
5a. Email the answers to these questions to info@zachwildlifeart.com. Please include your name, shipping address, phone number, and method of payment (credit card or check). The total for the encore with tax is $168.54. The total for the decorator with tax is $104.94. If paying by credit card, we will call you to request a credit card number.
-OR-
5b.  Call 515-964-7872 to place your order over the phone. Please leave your name and phone number if you reach the answering machine.

Painting choices:

The artwork listed below is available in either the Decorator or the Encore size, except songbird paintings, which are available in Decorator size only.
See images of all the artwork here.

Farm Scenes with Whitetail Deer

Old Rivals I
Old Rivals II
Old Rivals III

Whitetail Deer

November Frost
Big City Bucks
Broken Solitude
Winter Sunrise
Dream Bucks I
Dream Bucks II

Pheasant

Willow Bottom Ringnecks
Sportsman’s Dream

Turkey

Oak Ridge Monarch
Foggy Morning Trio

Songbirds

(Decorator size canvas only)

Bluebirds and Purple Coneflower
Goldfinch on Ironweed
Winter Cardinals on Goldenrod
Winter Pair Juncos
Indigo Pair Bunting

Framing options:

There are two framing options for each size of canvas.
Bluebirds and Purple Coneflower is shown in the darker F6 frame with golden fillet. Indigo Bunting – Redbud is shown in the lighter F11 frame.
Big City Bucks is shown in the darker F6 frame. Oak Ridge Monarch is shown in the golden oak F5 frame.

Bluebirds and Purple Coneflower (Decorator Canvas, Frame F6)	Indigo Bunting – Redbud (Decorator Canvas, Frame F11)
Big City Bucks (Encore Canvas, Frame F6)	Oak Ridge Monarch (Encore Canvas, Frame F5)

More information on the free gifts:

• Tasco 12×25 Binoculars
  • http://www.tasco.com/single.cfm?s=Binoculars&family=Essentials&product=178rb
  • http://www.cabelas.com/link-12/product/0034900712443a.shtml
• Streamlight Enduro LED Headlamp
  • Clip to hat brim or use elastic head strap
  • http://www.streamlight.com/product/product.aspx?pid=75
• Kershaw 1090GH Hunting & Field-Dressing Knife
  • Includes sheath with belt loop
  • http://www.kershawknives.com/productdetails.php?id=389&brand=kershaw
• Coleman Micropacker LED Lantern
  • Lightweight lantern goes anywhere
  • http://www.coleman.com/coleman/colemancom/detail.asp?product_id=2000000268&categoryid=1110&brand=
• Motorola SX900 2-Way Radios
  • Up to 18-mile range
  • http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8824604&type=product&id=1209165020761
• Camouflage grilling apron and grill mitt
  • Realtree Advantage camo for grilling in secrecy

Small print:

• Free gifts are limited to two per household.
• We reserve the right to substitute a free gift of equal or greater value if the supply of the original gift runs out.
• Our standard satisfaction guarantee applies to the artwork purchased during this promotion. If you are not completely satisfied with your artwork order, you can return the artwork (along with the free gift and its original packaging) for a full refund or exchange.

We hope you have a great Father’s Day this year!

Sincerely,

Zach Wildlife Art

As of May 1, 2009

• The moving sale is now over and the retail gallery location is closed. The event was a great success, and we really enjoyed visiting and catching up with all of the customers who were able to attend.
• The sale was accompanied by a physically-demanding move of all the contents of the gallery. That part was not as much fun! Fortunately we were generously assisted by a number of young and energetic collectors/outdoorsmen.
• With the move to the new website (launching soon), we are also changing our business phone number. The new number is 515.964.7872. Please update your records. As always, we are also available by emailing info@zachwildlifeart.com.

As of Friday, April 24, 2009

• New songbird open edition canvases in stock with introductory sale price ($89, normally $109)

New songbird open edition canvases. (Molly not for sale!)

• All home decor and gifts marked down again. Lamps now 50% off. Lots of other items at 75% off.

What

We’re reducing the inventory in the gallery before we move operations online. This means big savings for you.

Framed artwork, home decor, and gifts, including authentic African carvings, are on sale up to 75% off.

Bring in your unframed Zach prints and receive 10% off framing. Plus, we will ship your newly framed artwork back to you for free!

Take advantage of this sale to find the perfect gifts for Mother’s Day and Father’s Day. The holidays will be here before you know it.

We also have some new products available for order, including open edition canvas art. Now, for the first time, you can hang a decorator canvas on your wall of sold-out Zach classics like November Frost!

Free Encore Print

Take home an Encore open edition print, normally $50, for free with any purchase of $50 or more!

Painting choices include: Old Rivals I, II, & III; Big Timber Bucks, Big City Bucks, & Big Country Bucks; Foggy Morning Trio – Turkey, Whitetail, & Canada Geese; and Serengeti Warrior – African Lion.

Photos from Moving Sale

If you’d like a preview of the great sales at the gallery before you walk through the door, check out this slideshow. Here are some examples:

20% off framing on limited edition art, including Bluebirds and Purple Coneflower	30% off this table, including sculptures and lamps
50% off this table, including candleholders, duck carvings, Big Sky Carvers bears, clocks, and more	75% off this table, including artwork, hats, shirts, belt buckles, and ornaments
NEW PRODUCT! $20 off framed open edition canvases	Plants and furniture must go!

Click here to see the rest of the moving sale!

Complimentary Notecards and Postcards

We have extra notecards and postcards of most paintings. Please take home as many as you can use!

Extended Hours

Hours:       10 am – 8 pm every day through April 26

Where

641 S Ankeny Blvd, Ankeny, IA (map)

Why

As you may have heard at the last open house, we are moving our physical gallery to the web. We’re excited about this transition and the opportunities it creates for Marcia and I to travel and for me to spend more time painting in the field.

Our new website, which is almost finished and will launch soon, will make it simple to order the latest release and will feature expanded content such as photos and videos from the field. For more details on the transition and answers to frequently asked questions (FAQ) read this post.

We look forward to seeing you at the gallery one last time!

Sincerely,

Larry

May 1, 2009

• The moving sale is completed and the retail gallery is now closed. The new and improved website will be launching soon!

Original Post

In April 2009, Zach Wildlife Art will be transitioning from a bricks-and-mortar gallery in Ankeny to a new online gallery experience complimented by regular public showings.

In preparation for the move, we will be featuring a moving sale to reduce our in-store inventory. Framed artwork is heavy and fragile, so we want to move as little as possible! Read about the moving sale here.

Why are you making this transition?

Marcia and I are excited for the travel opportunities that emerge once we are no longer physically tied to running the gallery. We look forward to gathering inspiration and reference for future artwork from diverse locations and enjoying the wonders of nature that never cease to amaze us. I think collectors will notice this diversifying inspiration in my future artwork.

Our new website, which is almost finished and will launch soon, will make it simple to follow in-progress paintings on my easel and to order the latest releases at any time, any day of the week. The website will contain not only information on paintings, but you’ll also find my blog, photo slideshows, and videos documenting my adventures with nature and the outdoors.

I think the online gallery will provide an enhanced, interactive experience for collectors, whether they reside in Ankeny or Anchorage.

The transition also offers more diverse opportunities for Marcia and I to interact directly with collectors, at places such as art shows and conservation events that we have not previously been able to attend.

How will the transition enhance Larry’s painting and conservation work?

Increased freedom of time and place creates better and more frequent opportunities for plein air painting (originals painted outside, on-location). Plein air painting provides unique, informal originals for collectors and exceptional opportunities for continuously practicing and improving as an artist. Also, Marcia and I have a long list of countries and continents where we would like to gather reference in the future. In no particular order, they include: New Zealand, Europe, Africa, Asia, and more. I expect to find increased opportunities for field wildlife study and more opportunities to partner in special projects with conservation groups and nature advocacy, such as Springbrook Conservation Education Center.

Where will I be able to see Larry and his artwork in person?

Attendance at shows and conservation banquets will be maintained or increased, including: Iowa Deer Classic (Des Moines), Iowa Safari Club International (SCI) annual banquet, Iowa Wildlife and Nature in Art Show (Cedar Rapids), and numerous conservation banquets.

We are working to schedule other artist showings at locations such as Tassel Ridge Winery and our dealer galleries and department stores, such as Scheels.

If you have a suggestion or request for me to attend a new event, please email the information to info@zachwildlifeart.com.

How do I keep up-to-date on Zach Wildlife Art news, including painting releases?

We have several channels to share news with our customers, so you can choose which methods work best for you, including:

• Larry’s Studio Insider email newsletter (subscribe by completing the form here)
• Postal mailings (to sign up, call or leave a note in the comment field here)
• Website events listing
• Larry’s Blog

How do I view, order, and obtain artwork and keep up-to-date on news?

We provide a range of methods for you to view the latest artwork, to place your order, and to receive your purchases, including:

• Art shows, gallery showings, and conservation banquets
  • View, order, and pick up artwork
• Telephone
  • Order artwork to be shipped
• Website
  • View, order, and arrange shipping of artwork
• Postal mailings
  • View artwork (order via phone)

The new website will offer many new features, including large artwork images with zoom for an up-close look at the brush strokes, an easy-to-use ordering process, and quicker order processing and shipping times.

Personalized customer support will continue to be our highest priority, and we encourage you to never hestitate to pick up the phone and call when you have a question.

As always, artwork can be purchased at our network of dealer galleries and sporting goods stores.

What framing options will you offer?

Zach Wildlife Art will continue to provide framing for all of Larry’s work, including originals, prints, canvases, and open edition artwork. We will offer several recommended framing packages for each Zach painting, enhancing the artwork with the best combinations of frame and matting. If custom framing of Zach art is desired, a unique combination can be created to meet your individual needs.

For collectors who don’t use email, will postal mailings be sent for new releases?

Yes, we will continue to send mailings with information on new releases to those collectors who request them. Please let us know if you want to be included on the postal mailing list.

Thank you for working with us as we progress through this transition and learning process. I am grateful to have such a wonderful group of collectors. It is spending time with others who share in my love of wildlife and nature that makes my work so fulfilling.

Please make sure to call (515-964-1570) or email if you have any other questions.

Sincerely,

Larry Zach

Even prior to finishing Dream Bucks II – The Missing Trophy, I was already searching for a subject for its sequel, Dream Bucks III. Living in Iowa and knowing many serious deer hunters, coming up with a list of potential candidates was not difficult. However, with the multitude of great bucks this state produces, deciding which particular trophy to paint can be a challenge.

Things got a little easier by late October 2008. Photos of a tremendous buck started appearing on the internet. At least a dozen friends forwarded the photos to me to ensure I knew about the buck taken by a bowhunter in eastern Iowa.

After a couple phone calls, I found myself talking to Kyle Simmons, a pleasant young man from Jackson County, Iowa. You can read the story of Kyle’s hunt in an article from North American Whitetail here.

After discussing the concept for the Dream Bucks series, Kyle was interested in the possibility of having his buck featured in the upcoming painting. We agreed on a time and place where I could see the buck in person and take photographs.

Once I arrived and Kyle pulled out the rack, it didn’t take long to realize I was looking at a remarkable set of antlers. The rack was not only going to score well, but more importantly, it was very impressive visually. It was everything an artist wanted!

Unfortunately, it had taken me longer than I anticipated to get to Kyle’s place, so I had to work fast to get photos before the sun hid behind a cloud bank moving in from the west.

The initial visit and photo-shoot was followed by numerous phone conversations, but it was challenging to arrange for a follow-up photo session while the rack was being cast for reproductions and being mounted by Joe Meder of Solon.

During this period, I considered, literally, dozens of compositions. I found a number of combinations I liked initially, but that would not work for this painting. I needed a strong composition, but the background had certain requirements beyond those of an artistic nature.

Over the years, I’ve partnered with many conservation groups. Since I now do my own color work and printing in-house, we’ve developed some creative ways to help conservation groups maximize their fundraising efforts.

Starting with Dream Bucks II, I have been customizing the painting and creating a unique image and edition for each of several conservation groups. For example, the prints in the Iowa Pheasants Forever edition have several added rooster pheasants, unique to this edition. The Iowa Ducks Unlimited edition has a number of wood ducks included, inconspicuously. Some editions include wild turkey. By offering a unique design, conservation group chapters have been able to raise increased funds for great causes.

That brings me to the complications introduced for me, as the artist designing each painting. It needs to be a composition that not only works well for the main focal point, the buck, but also one that provides a natural setting for turkey, pheasants, and waterfowl to share the scene, as well.

After many trials and much evaluation, I finally settled on one painting design. Also, I was able to see both Kyle and the trophy again at the Iowa Deer Classic recently, and I used this opportunity to take more photos of the rack in better lighting conditions.

[I will add some photos here as soon as they’re copied off my camera.]

I am currently in the process of painting the original, and I hope to have it done soon. After all, spring is coming soon, which means habitat management and prepping for this year’s food plots!

In my next post, I’ll show you the design for Dream Bucks III and explain how the particular composition was developed.

Kyle will be splitting time between our Zach Wildlife Art booth, where a trophy replica will be displayed, and the Hunter’s Specialties booth, where the original rack will be shown.

Make sure you stop by our booth so I can tell you about the upcoming Dream Bucks III painting featuring the Kyle Simmons buck!

Customized version of the North American Whitetail magazine cover

(And, just for fun, see if you can tell the difference between the real rack and the replica.)

Good news! The third and final painting in the Dream Bucks series is on the easel and in progress.

I am hearing from many of you how excited you are to see this latest deer painting, so I will be working to post regular updates on the progress of the piece as it evolves. I will also share “behind the scenes” details on the inspiration for the painting and on the famous buck that is now the subject of aspiring hunters’ dreams.

The Kyle Simmons Buck

The featured buck for Dream Bucks III is a deer taken with a bow by Kyle Simmons in Jackson County, Iowa on Oct. 16, 2008.

This world-class buck is truly special and, I believe, a perfect subject for my Dream Bucks painting series.

Kyle Simmons’s hunting season was certainly a dream come true, as this was his first buck taken with a bow!

Dream Bucks II – The Missing Trophy featured the monster buck taken by Brian Andrews in 2003. At 253 1/8 inches, that deer was the state record non-typical archery buck for five years – until Kyle Simmons’s buck , scoring 270 6/8 (green), entered the scene and knocked the previous title winner off the podium.

You may have already read the story published in North American Whitetail magazine about Kyle Simmons’s trophy and the hunt that lead to success. If you haven’t, don’t worry, because I’ve embedded the story below for your reading pleasure!

I recommend reading the article in full-screen mode. Just click the square icon in the top right corner to expand the article.

Love Candies

When

Shopping Specials

Bluebirds and Purple Coneflower by Larry Zach (c) 2008

I’ve been wanting to do a bluebird piece for a long time, but I was only recently able to finally gather all the reference material I needed to create a strong painting design.I was raised on a farm in eastern Iowa between the town of Swisher and the eastern-most colony of the Amana Colonies appropriately called, East Amana. The farm included some rich Iowa River bottom ground and nearby hills and valleys with a mosaic of timber and pasture. The timber included a number of ancient trees including old white oaks dating back to pre-settlement days. A creek ran through the farm. There were lots of places to explorer and learn about mother nature and I took full advantage of it. I’ve never out grown that passion, the excitement of exploring new country and learning about the natural world.

Though I was raised on a farm I never really wanted to be a farmer. It always seemed more interesting to me to study the natural world. At a young age I realized I wanted to live and work on a farm, not to make a living but to work with the habitat and wildlife. Of course that usually doesn’t pay very well so the dream stayed a dream for many years.

So owning a piece of land in Iowa and managing it for habitat and wildlife has been a dream of mine for most of my life. While teaching and raising a family funds accumulated slowly so I was almost 50 by the time I joined friends to purchase some ground in northern Missouri. I bought my current farm, a rather run down piece of ground in 1997. It showed a lot of use. The  CRP was all brome and the timber long neglected and choked with multiflora rose. But it was what I was looking for. Not much of a farm for traditional farming, but it was a great candidate for a wildlife farm.

The following 11 years have been a labor of love. Lots of tree planting, timber stand improvement, putting in food plots, ponds and a wetland, re-establishing native grass and prairie. The property is managed for a lot of diversity of habitat with the goal of appealing to a wide range of wildlife. Along with nest boxes for Canada geese, kestrels, wood ducks, wrens, and tree swallows, we have number of bluebird houses and the bluebirds take full advantage of them.

I was sitting in a blind near one of these bluebird houses one morning as the rising sun cut through the morning fog. I’d carefully placed the blind to get the angle of light I wanted and for once everything went right. A pair of bluebirds came by house hunting. The male looked it over from a number of different angles. Then the female did her inspection. Meanwhile, a very excited wildlife artist (that’s me) was enjoying the whole show and capturing it through a 200 mm lens for up-close results. That is how I captured the bluebird reference I subsequently used to paint Bluebirds and Purple Coneflower.

Along with building bird habitats, we’ve been working on re-establishing several prairie plots on the farm by seeding dozens of species of native grasses,  forbs, and sedges. Much of the seed used I had collected myself during my wanderings. I also included a bag of seed I bought from Carl Kurtz, who is an exceptional photographer and sells native seed raised on his farm. (We first met in the 1960s while studying Fish and Wildlife Biology at Iowa State University.) The seed bag was composed of up to 80 different plants, so each year I walk the prairies and see if I can spot any new members of the community emerging.

There are the plants that show up only after a number of years. Then there are the old reliables that show up every year. One that is very showy in the summer is  purple coneflower. I like to head out at dawn each morning with my camera and take photos while the light is prime. It was on several of these forays that I collected the purple coneflower reference.

Though I’ve taken out many of the interior fences on the property, I often leave old fence posts in place when they are not in the way. In southeastern Iowa, most of these were cut from hedge apple ( Osage-orange) decades ago. Hedge posts are extremely rot resistant and therefore last a very long time. The older they get, the more character they develop. This particular post sits along a lane which cuts through a little patch of prairie. Though I didn’t see the pair of bluebirds in that particular spot, it seems like a natural setting for them. It also provided the reference post for this painting.

Once I had the components I needed, I created the conceptual design, and then finally the original painting. I had plenty of reference material, so I experimented with various elements and compositions until I found the arrangement I liked best. It was fun to work the various colors up and down to find the right balance. Developing the atmosphere of the scene enhanced the sense of depth. These paintings, even though they may seem simple in composition at first glance, seem to always take longer than I anticipate to finish. It’s worth the work, though, because it’s final result that counts. I hope you like the result of my work this time: Bluebirds and Purple Coneflower.

Information on the Eastern purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)
http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=ECPU

Information on the Eastern bluebird (Sialia sialis)
http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Eastern_Bluebird.html

Photos of the Eastern bluebird brooding process, from egg-laying to fledging (leaving the nest), from a NestCam
http://www.birds.cornell.edu/nestinginfo/nestboxcam/2007_cams/e_bluebird_heath2/index1_html

The holidays are almost here, and with them comes priceless time with family and friends. The last few months of the year might be our favorite, with changing leaves leading into peaceful snowfalls (and let’s not forget deer season).

Larry’s latest painting, Bluebird and Purple Coneflower, will be released soon. If you order before Christmas, the 20% off framing special will apply to your purchase!

Note: We cannot guarantee delivery of Bluebird and Purple Coneflower by December 25 because of possible printing and framing delays. Call 515.964.1570 to place your order and determine your delivery date. Scroll down to see a photo of Larry finishing the painting.

Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas!

- Larry and Marcia Zach

‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Just one creature was stirring, the loving spouse
The artwork she hung by the chimney with care
‘Cause who wants plain walls, all empty and bare?

When it comes to the outdoorsman, bird watcher, or devoted hunter on your shopping list, nothing can fill a stocking — or a wall — like the stunning artwork from Zach Wildlife Art.

For nature lovers, no gift is so smart
Happy Christmas to all, and to all Zach Wildlife Art!

Even if you couldn’t attend the recent Open House, you can still enjoy some great sales this holiday season!

• 20% off framing on the purchase of framed Limited Edition artwork INCLUDING the newest release, Bluebird and Purple Coneflower
• Free box framing with the purchase of a canvas print
• 20% off the purchase of in-stock Open Edition artwork
• 30% off the purchase of home decor items
• 2/$49 framed single mini prints and 2/$99 framed triple mini prints (in-stock)

Larry putting the finishing touches on Bluebird and Purple Coneflower

Highlights:

• In-progress and recently finished paintings on display: bluebird, elk, Dream Bucks III, and more.
• Many sales! Here’s a sampling:
  • 20% off framing on the purchase of one Limited Edition piece
  • 30% off framing on the purchase of two Limited Edition pieces
  • Free box framing with the purchase of a canvas
  • 2/$49 framed single mini prints and 2/$99 framed triple mini prints
  • 30% off the purchase of home decor items
  • 20% off the purchase of in-stock Open Edition artwork
• RSVP online here for a free gift!
• Complimentary wine tastings from Tassel Ridge Winery paired with Iowa-made cheeses, juices (Iowa Orchards apple, raspberry, and cranberry), fresh-roasted coffee (Zanzibar Coffee), and breads (Great Harvest Bakery)
• Take home a free Zach Art stemless wine glass after your wine tasting
• A portion of sales will be donated to the Conservation Education Center at Springbrook, who will be joining us to share the park’s story and teach fly-tying techniques
• Daily drawings for artwork prizes, with a grand prize of a framed, limited-edition canvas valued at $525!
• Scavenger hunt with prizes for kids

Dear Collector,

I’d like to invite you into the gallery from December 4-7 for a celebration of art, nature, and conservation. I’ve extended the Open House to four days this year to make sure you can stop by on your schedule.

Thursday           Friday                 Saturday            Sunday
December 4       December 5       December 6       December 7
10 am – 8 pm    10 am – 8 pm    10 am – 8 pm    10 am – 5 pm

Featured on display will be my latest paintings and in-progress works, which I would like to share with you for the first time. I’d love to talk with you about the inspiration for these pieces, and I will appreciate hearing your thoughts and what you’d like to see in the future.

We will have daily drawings for art pieces, including a grand prize of a framed, limited edition canvas valued at $525! And with the holidays just around the corner, be sure to take advantage of a long list of Open House-only sales when you’re shopping for Christmas gifts.

As you may know, before painting full-time I was a junior high science teacher. As part of my passion for education on the wonders of nature, I have partnered with the Conservation Education Center at Springbrook Park to support their goals of raising conservation awareness and exposing Iowans to outdoor experiences. Did you know that up to 20,000 people of all ages pass through the center every year? They are doing great work at Springbrook, and a representative from the park will be present to talk about their programs and story. They’ll have a table set up with fly-tying equipment, so you can learn about the artistry of creating tasty-looking fishing lures from scratch.

I believe in the Conservation Education Center’s mission so much that I’m donating a portion of all Open House sales toward their future programs.

In celebration of our partnership with Iowa’s own Tassel Ridge winery, there will be complimentary wine tastings for you to enjoy. We’re pairing the delicious wines with Iowa-made fine cheeses, breads, juices, and coffee to round out the palate pleasure.

I hope you will join me at the Open House Thursday, December 4 – Sunday, December 7. And please bring the kids! They’ll have fun on a wildlife art scavenger hunt with prizes for all.

If you RSVP for the Open House here, I’ll make sure to have a special gift waiting for you when you arrive!

Zach Wildlife Art
641 S Ankeny Blvd
Ankeny, IA 50023
515.964.1570
info@zachwildlifeart.com
www.zachwildlifeart.com
RSVP Form

Open House
Thursday, December 4 – Sunday, December 7
| Thursday 10 am – 8 pm | Friday 10 am – 8 pm |
| Saturday 10 am – 8 pm | Sunday 10 am – 5 pm |

Donated prints:

Sportsman’s Dream |  Signed and numbered, artist proof, canvas edition (one of only 25)

Dream Bucks II — The Missing Trophy  |  Signed and numbered, limited edition, framed

Unfortunately, I won’t be able to attend the event because of a conflicting fishing trip to Saskatchewan with my son. Nonetheless, I encourage any bird hunters to get out there for the 2nd annual event and help beat last year’s total of $33,000 raised!

Here is some more information and a link to Shoot for a Cure’s site.

Shoot for a Cure is a clay target shooting event held to benefit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. In its inaugural year (2007) the event attracted 140 participants, was supported by over 20 nationwide sponsors, and was run by over 40 volunteers. The event grossed over $33,000. The Iowa Chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is planning another great event for 2008 which is on its way to becoming the premiere charity shooting event in the state.

This year’s event will include a youth shoot followed by a VIP event Friday, June 20th. Participants will have the opportunity to observe and shoot with some of Iowa’s premier expert shooters. Friday’s event will be followed by dinner, silent and live auctions and entertainment featuring Nashville recording artist and avid shooter TJ Klay. On Saturday, June 21st the Shoot for a Cure tournament will take place. Saturday’s tournament will be followed by festivities and entertainment by TJ Klay.

http://www.shoot4acure.org/

Free wine to enjoy while grilling with Dad this year!

(If you’d like to hear about these deals and Larry’s latest work in an email, please sign our guest book.)

If the father in your life loves wildlife and the outdoors, you have the usual Father’s Day choices: wool hunting socks to replace the holey ones in the drawer, or say, those new fishing lures that are “guaranteed” to catch the big one.

But wool socks are useless in June and the secret to those fishing lures is their putrid smell.

For a gift that will make Dad’s jaw drop this Father’s Day, give him a piece of stunning artwork from Larry Zach Wildlife Art.

Dad won’t be able to help drooling over the record buck in Larry Zach’s latest release, Dream Bucks II — The Missing Trophy. And the flying pheasants in Sportsman’s Dream will have him dreaming about pheasant season for the next four months. Mom won’t be able to argue with the beautiful, snowy scene of Larry Zach’s latest bird painting, Winter Pair Juncos.

Don’t forget that Larry Zach Wildlife Art also offers custom framing, so you can make sure Dad’s new painting matches Mom’s living room color scheme.

We’re so grateful for fathers at Zach Wildlife Art that we’re extending Father’s Day into Father’s Month. Through the month of June, when you pick up a framed, limited-edition print in our gallery, we’ll throw in a free bottle of delicious wine from Tassel Ridge Winery in Leighton, IA.

Bonus: We’re extending the Father’s Month special to those customers who’ve purchased a print in the past but do not have it framed. Bring the print in for custom framing and you’ll also receive a free bottle of wine!

Come visit us at Larry Zach Wildlife Art in Ankeny, just 10 minutes north of Des Moines, at 641 South Ankeny Boulevard, or call us at 515-964-1570. You can see Larry’s art on the web here.

Remember:

No socks.

No bait.

Just Larry Zach Wildlife Art for the father you love this Father’s Day.

Here are early observations:

A pair of wrens are nesting in the box right off the deck. While one wren carried sticks to the nest, the other spent considerable energy trying to drive off a red-bellied woodpecker that wanted to feed in the area. The fact that the woodpecker seemed to totally ignore the racket and diving attacks didn’t seem to hinder the enthusiasm nor the persistence of the wren.

A pair of rough-wing swallows are apparently building a nest in the pole shed. They are carrying nesting material into a box that contains my deer decoy. It is on a shelf about 10′ off the ground. They seem to work as a pair, first landing on the gravel drive, then one picks up some nest material which looks like small grassy stuff possibly from the last few days of lawn mowing. Next they both fly back into the pole shed and disappear into the box with the material.

A pair of barn swallows are nesting in the same location over the sliding door of the pole shed where a pair nested last year.

A pair of blue birds are using the nest box just south of the pole shed. The female gathers primarily dead grasses from the lane where I accidentally sprayed Roundup and killed the grass.

An eastern phoebe is attracted to the frame work under my tower blind about 10 yards off the deck. Last year I attached some lumber scraps to the bottom of the frame work so robins, swallows, and phoebe could build nests there. Last year barn swallows took advantage of the site.

Starlings have managed to get past my mesh barrier and are nesting again in the overhang of the trailer.

Canada geese were interested in the pond again this year but by the time I rigged up a floating nest tub they had chosen another location. I have mixed feelings about that. It would have been fun to watch and listen to them but I won’t miss the goose droppings that would have likely been deposited on the dock.

I can also hear and see a number of other birds that have not yet found nest sites. These include the red-bellied woodpecker, red-headed woodpeckers, downy woodpecker, white breasted nuthatch, tree swallows, rose-breasted grossbeaks, red-winged blackbirds, purple grackles, song sparrows, ruby-throated hummingbirds, goldfinch (will nest later), yellow-throated warbler, vultures (may be nesting in the bulldozed brush pile from when the pond was built), eastern meadowlark, wild turkey and chipping sparrow are the species that come to mind at this moment.

It’s always amazing the sheer amount of wildlife you will see if you can sit still long enough to look for it.

I got a lot of work done at the farm earlier this week. I took some soybeans with me for planting food plots. Unfortunately… the tractor wouldn’t start. We worked on it much of the day and finally got it going. I tilled and disc-ed until about 9:30pm because of the rain forecast. Good thing I did, because it started raining about dawn the next day. I’ll see if I can get some spraying done between rains.

I also worked up 5 spots for fruit trees in the orchard to replace trees killed by rabbits and mice.

Planting corn and prairie will have to wait until it dries out again.

When I travel or go to the farm I can take my laptop and hard drive along and do virtually anything here at the farm that I can do at the home office. That means when it rains, or at night when I can’t work outside, I just fire up the computer and go to work in the trailer. For example, I have thousands upon thousands of digital photos that need to be sorted and tagged as reference material for future paintings.

I just glanced out the window to see how the rain was doing and there was a male bluebird sitting on the cottonwood tree 10 feet from my window. I’ve got the curtains pulled back so I can sit right here and look at the evergreens, prairie, food plots, timber, wetland and pond just by turning my head. Things are really coming along down here.

This year I’ve put in about 10 acres of switchgrass, 500 miscanthus (I will write later about my goals for planting these tall plants), 8 acres of beans in in 8 different plots, and corn in 4 plots. I still have more switchgrass, prairie, beans, Egyptian wheat, and fruit trees to put in.

There are lots of birds feeding and gathering nest material right hear by the trailer. Whenever I have good lighting at dawn I get in a blind and shoot bird reference for future paintings. See this post for notes on the birds living around the trailer.