Ontario Bird Studies, Natural Wildlife Portraits, Listed Environmental Artist Paul Harpley "Blackburian Warblers" 2024 1981. L.Edition: 17/300

Paul Harpley, a painter and environmental watercolorist in the vein of the iconic Glen Loates was born in Toronto, Ontario, 1955.

As a conservationist, naturalist and artist Paul Harpley has a deep, long-time connection to the Rouge Valley, ( a large and rugged swath of land between Toronto and Pickering, Ontario), having spent summers at his grandparents' cabin in the area, fishing and canoeing the lower Rouge. “There weren't trails in those days,” he says. “[For me] as a kid, 2024 it felt like going to the edge of civilization.”

Today, Harpley operates a research station north of Toronto, on Lake Simcoe. And his deep knowledge and respect of the environment still inform his art. Renowned for his pencil and watercolour depictions of wildlife, landscapes and natural habitats, Harpley has been commissioned for book illustrations, and his drawings of zoo animals were the first ones used by the Toronto Zoo.
- from Website

An honours graduate in Science from the University of Toronto, wildlife art has enabled Paul to combine his two great interests, science and art. In 1992, he completed a Masters degree at York University specializing in Western perceptions of nature.

A listed Canadian artist since 1985 he is represented by:

-National Gallery of Canada - Library and Archives / Canadian Museum of Contemporary Photography
-Art Gallery of Ontario - Edward P. Taylor Research Library and Archives
-Toronto Reference Library

In contrast to many environmental landscape artists whose works are deeply expressive using color and illustrative techniques, Harpley's approach is scientific where the focus moves towards the subjects themselves rather than 'impressions' of nature. This is nature itself.

These are living forest creatures in their natural habitat, carefully observed, painted and then left undisturbed.

There is a 'Certificate of Edition' on the back with details on type and number of prints and verification of the film and plates destroyed.

Vintage frame and lithograph are in good condition, ready to hang.


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Frame: 18 1/2" x 22 1/2"
Image: 12 1/2" x 13 1/2"