John Seerey-Lester – Wildlife, History, Nostalgia
For nearly four decades, Sir John Seerey-Lester was at the top level of representational painters, particularly in the genre of wildlife art. Knighted in Austria and represented in the White House’s art collection, Seerey-Lester was a favorite of collectors, a mentor to many, and an inspiration to thousands of painters. He died of cancer at age 74 on May 19, 2020. He is survived by his wife, Suzie, and his son, John Jr.
Seerey-Lester was born and raised in England and moved to the United States in 1980, becoming a citizen in 2012. He resided in Osprey, Florida at the time of his death.
Seerey-Lester was known to be generous with other artists with encouragement and advice, and was popular for his ability to tell stories from his adventures and those of others. Although his fame came primarily from his work with a paintbrush, Seerey-Lester was a writer as well, publishing four books illustrated with his paintings. In later years, the artist focused on retelling in words and paintings the stories from Theodore Roosevelt’s hunts. It was a natural fit for the artist, as Seerey-Lester put a high value on telling a story in his paintings.
His work hangs in major museums including the Gilcrease Museum, the National Museum of Wildlife Art, the Bennington Center for the Arts, and the Sonora Desert Museum. His paintings regularly appeared in shows at the Yawkey Woodson Art Museum, and his participation in the “Western Visions” shows at the National Museum of Wildlife Art was always expected. He and his wife were the subject of a two-person show at the Roger Tory Peterson Institute in 2016.
Seerey-Lester served on the board of directors for the Roger Tory Peterson Institute and Artists for Conservation, and was a member of the Society of Animal Artists, the Boone and Crockett Club, Oil Painters of America, Southern Plein Air Artists, and the NRA’s Hunters Leadership Forum.
His awards and recognitions included knighthood by His Imperial and Royal Highness Archduke Andres of Austria, the Ring of Freedom Award from the National Rifle Association, the Simon Combes Award for Conservation, and Artist of the Year from Sporting Classics.
His book titles include Legends of the Hunt: Campfire Tales, The Legendary Hunts of: Theodore Roosevelt, Tracks in the Sand, Vol. 1, Legends of the Hunt, Painting Wildlife With John Seerey-Lester, and Impressions of India and Nepal.
A native of Bulawayo, Zimbabwe (formerly Rhodesia), Lindsay Scott grew up in a tropical setting surrounded by a dazzling parade of colorful birds and exotic wildlife, learning the basics of bush survival. She has the uncanny ability to detect a snake in the tall grass 100 yards away and can recall the occasional leopard strolling down her street. Nature became her passion, and her love for Africa’s wildlife and its landscape became deeply rooted in her subconscious.
Drawing, painting and sculpting are the vehicles with which Alan Sakhavarz weaves his imagination into an art form. The common thread throughout his diverse creations is his quest for understanding the human condition and the world we live in.
Southern California artist Don Roth comes to the craft of painting with a vast range of abilities and experience. He incorporates the technical skills of a making his creations a wonder to behold. Don’s extraordinary talent blossomed while obtaining his Commercial Art degree in college, and continued to develop in the US Navy, where the artist served four years as an Illustrator Draftsman. The following eight years were spent as a one-man-art-department for a large city in Orange County. Ultimately, Don found a home for nearly twenty years as a Senior Industrial Designer in the commercial aircraft industry. It was there that the artist developed his skill creating precise airbrushed renderings, techniques that would distinguish his paintings from the competition in his ultimate career as a fine artist.
Sueellen Ross brings a fresh approach to her art. She is known for both her strong design and her subtle humor. The lively images Ross creates are based on her own experiences; as a city person, she often approaches wildlife from the urban dweller’s point of view.
Chad Poppleton a resident of Cache Valley Utah, has been interested in art ever since he can remember. Chad began his interest while on the farm with his grandfather. He would spend hours on the tractor and would draw to pass the time. Chad’s interest grew, as he got older, he became fascinated with big game wildlife. Spending time in the mountains and being in their environment captivates him. “Interpreting the behavior and character of each animal in its natural environment is the motivation for my work. Studying, sketching, life painting, and observing the animal’s behavior helps me to identify their characteristics and relay that into the canvas.”
Kim lives in a 100 year old character home near Lacombe Alberta, She spends her day, painting, riding and raising a family. This well accomplished artist was raised near Morden, Manitoba, and graduated from the University of Manitoba with degrees in Fine Arts & Education.
Realism artist Arleta Pech was raised as the only child in a farming family of limited means. Art exposure came not from museums or art schools, but from paper, paint, and crayons. She brought to this an imagination fostered by repeated readings of Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland, in which she found a kindred, though fictional spirit.
Del Parson grew up in Rexburg, Idaho where his father was an art professor at Ricks College and his mother taught second grade. His father often took his nine children on painting excursion campouts. He found his father’s love of art to be contagious, as did two of his brothers, who became artists as well.