ARTIST: Don Balke (North Carolina, 1933 - ???)
TITLE: Snowshoe Hare
YEAR: 1997
MEDIUM: gouache and watercolor on paper. Paper applied to board.
CONDITION: Some vertical crease lines.
ART SIZE: 16 x 20 inches / 40 x 50 cm
BOARD SIZE: 20 x 23 inches / 50 x 58 cm
SIGNATURE: lower right
NOTE: This art was originally published in the limited edition collection of philatelic proofcards issued by Fleetwood and the National Audubon Society for the Wildlife of the 50 States. A shy, retiring little fellow, the Snowshoe Hare frolics in Connecticut's evergreen forests. Suddenly, crisp fallen leaves from the state tree, the White Oak, rustle softly and the Snowshoe Hare freezes. Perfectly camouflaged against the snowy background, only his dark tipped ears and glistening black eyes peek out from the winter whiteness. Quivering slightly, the white hare waits patiently for suspected danger to pass and then gleefully continues his romp. The Snowshoe Hare uses the natural hair-covered overshoes on his hind feet to glide effortlessly across deep drifts without sinking into the fluffy snow. In spring, Snowshoe Hares move into thick forests where small clearings offer both food and protection. During the warm months they also "change clothes," donning basic brown as a natural camouflage. Because these furry mammals change color with the season, many refer to them as Varying Hares. Much like fictitious rabbits and haras such as the famous Peter Rabbit, Varying Hares spend most of their days fighting for survival. Extremely tasty to most carnivores, they are hunted widely by both man and beast. As if to compensate for the understandably short life spans, the Snowshoe Hares are unusually prolific. After a gestation period of about thirty-six days, the females give birth to anywhere from two to seven bunnies. Unlike their close relatives the rabbits, hares are bigger, have longer legs, taller ears and their young are born already covered with fur and with their eyes open.
PROVENANCE: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation.
CATEGORY: old antique vintage painting for auction sale online
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BIOGRAPHY:
Balke, the youngest of ten children, grew up on a farm in northern backcountry of Wisconsin. His family was completely dependent on the land; they tapped trees to make maple syrup; used crosscut saws for logging and horses for their farmwork; they raised crops for themselves and as income. His upbringing instilled in him a love of nature and wildlife. He received his first art award in a Wisconsin state-sponsored art contest while at elementary school for a painting of a black bear roaming in the woods. After serving in the US Army, he married Barbara Schernick and they moved to Chicago where he enrolled in the Academy of Fine Arts, now known as the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. During his time at the Academy, he specialized in still-life paintings. After graduating, he was hired by a Chicago illustrating studio and eventually moved back to Wisconsin where he worked as a commercial art director. He won many awards for his work as an art director and illustrator. On his own time, late in the night, he painted and developed his skills as a wildlife artist. After 17 years, he left his work as an art director to devote himself completely to watercolors and wildlife art. By 1979, they had six children and a home in the village of Thiensville, Wisconsin. Balke's love of nature took him to the NC mountains where he bought 200 acres in McDowell County and built a home. In 1985, a gallery was added and the Don Balke Wildlife Gallery was opened. In 1987, his work was chosen as the illustration for the official NC Zoo poster. In 1992, the United States Post Office issued a series of first-class postage stamps portraying five different species of hummingbirds designed by Balke. Balke travels to Africa, Australia, Ireland, the Caribbean, and across the 50 United States for inspiration and research. His wife, Barbara Schernick Balke, does extensive research on the animals and their habitats in preparation for the paintings and does much of the photography on research trips. He is best known for his detailed and realistic watercolor paintings portraying wildlife in their natural environment. In 2000, he transitioned to a more impressionistic style with oils portraying scenes from Yosemite National Park in California, Ocracoke Island on the Outer Banks, and Grandfather Mountain in North Carolina.