ARTIST: Don Balke (North Carolina, born 1933)
TITLE: Birds - Montana Ross Goose
YEAR: 1983
MEDIUM: gouache and watercolor on board
CONDITION: Very good.
ART SIZE: 10 x 12 inches / 25 x 30 cm
BOARD SIZE: 18 x 20 inches / 45 x 50 cm
SIGNATURE: lower right
NOTE: This painting originally appeared on the Fleetwood Commemorative Cover for the Waterbirds of the 50 States Montana/Ross's Goose. For seventy-seven years after its first scientific description in 1861, the Ross' Goose was considered a mysterious migrant that summered somewhere in the immense wilderness of the Canadian Arctic. The birds' breeding grounds reamined an enigma until 1938 when a nesting colony was discovered in the Perry River region of the Northwest Territories -- the mystery was at last solved. The Ross' Goose, which is a relatively rare species, is quite small and covered with snow-white feathers. In contrast to its pure white plumage, the Goose bears distinctive black wing tips that enhance its beauty. Both adults and young are very similar in appearance to the Snow Geese, from which they can be distinguished only by their smaller size and high bills. The Ross' Geese begin northward migration in early March, and by April wave upon wave of the magnificent birds begin arriving in Montana. After a short stopover in Montana, they continue their northward journey until they reach their final destination, the Great Slave Lake, in late May. There, using willow, birch grass and moss, the female builds her nursery. She carefully lines the nest with her own soft down and feathers and incubates her eggs for about twenty days. The male bird always stands guard to protect the family while the female is incubating the clutch. Once hatched, the young quickly take to the water. As the short Canadian summer wanes, the Ross' Geese form flocks for their migratory journey south.
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.