Exotic

In the private collection of Beth & Jeff Elzemeyer, Memphis, TN

"Elok"

acrylic on canvas

20 x 24

gallery wrap

sold

How can anyone watch the antics of an orangutan and not smile. Having a face only a mother could love, they are among my favorite to study and photograph. Born in our Memphis zoo, Elok lived with his mother and sister until he was old enough to go to his new zoo home in Houston. Elok was such special cargo, that he was flown to his new destination in a passenger seat along side his caregivers to begin his life as a Texan. This painting of "Elok" is in the private collection of Kenneth and Jennifer Kohrs from Richmond, Texas.

"Le Le"

acrylic on canvas

30 x 40

unframed

gallery wrap

Sold

"Leonardo"

acrylic on canvas

30 x 40

gallery wrap

"Leopold"

acrylic on canvas

20 x 24

unframed

gallery wrap

Sold

"Lion King"

oil on canvas

24 x 36

unframed

gallery wrap

Sold

"Ndembo"

oil on canvas

16 x 20 (unframed)

26 x 30 (framed)

Africa, where else can one see this massive, powerful creature full of impressive grace and intelligence. As large as his is, the male elephant will still spread his ears to make himself appear even larger to any wildlife he believes is a threat. Elephants try to establish their dominance through these threat gestures and only fight as a last resort. In South Africa, Ndembo, means elephant.

"Predator"

acrylic on canvas

30 x 40

unframed

gallery wrap

sold

I am always drawn to the sleek, beautiful movements of tigers. Of all the wild animals, I've probably painted them the most. This tiger was just getting up from the shade to slowly sneak towards his prey, and I couldn't resist painting the intensity of his eyes and face.

"Predator" is in the private collection of the girl's basketball coach at the University of Memphis, Blair Savage Lansden.

"Raji"

acrylic on canvas

24 x 36

unframed

gallery wrap

"Shardul"

acrylic on canvas

36 x 36

unframed

gallery wrap

Painting tigers with their beautiful fur, sleek bodies, and exotic eyes make them one of my favorite subjects. The name "Shardul" is Indian for tiger and this particular tiger is a Bengal. Aside from the Bengal tiger, the Siberian, and the Sumatran are the three species that most people know. I'm probably drawn to the Bengal because its coat is the brightest and most colorful, but I have many paintings of the Sumatran because that's what we have in our Memphis zoo.

"Simba"

acrylic on canvas

24 x 30

gallery wrap

sold

"Tumai"

acrylic on canvas

30 x 24

unframed

gallery wrap

Tumai is a silverback gorilla that lives in our Memphis zoo. He will sit for hours just looking out over the crowds of people who are trying to get a good look at him and the other gorillas that live on his compound. They sometimes look so human, it's amazing.

"Two to Tango"

acrylic on canvas

24 x 36

unframed

gallery wrap

Sold

Giraffes have a unique pattern that most people recognize immediately. Our Memphis zoo has a wonderful collection of these beautiful creatures, and they love to embrace each other in such affectionate ways. This painting is on its way to Chicago, Illinois, to be in the private nursery collection of Nicholas Swayne Latham. Baby Nicholas' parents are Swayne and Sara Latham.

"What's Black & White"

acrylic on canvas

24 x 30

unframed

gallery wrap

"Ya Ya"

acrylic on canvas

30 x 30

unframed

gallery wrap

sold

"Ya Ya & Le Le "

oil on canvas

36 x 24

framed

sold

In the private collection of
Catherine and Lawrence Conn
of Memphis, Tennessee

In 2003, and after much political negotiations, our Memphis Zoo finally received pandas Ya Ya and Le Le. On loan to us for the next ten years from China, they have brought great joy and entertainment to the thousands that have come to see them. This painting has been another good one for me winning two People's Choice.

	Back to Home Page	Exotic Animals
	"Jungle Baby" acrylic on canvas 30 x 30 gallery wrap	In the private collection of Beth & Jeff Elzemeyer, Memphis, TN
	"Allie's Sloth" 16 x 20 acrylic gallery wrap sold	"Allie's Sloth" was a Christmas commission for Allie by her mom, Beth. Allie fell in love with sloths as a young girl on a family vacation to Costa Rica, and after years of asking for a painting of a sloth, Beth decided it wasn't merely a whim. I'll have to say, this was one of my most unusual requests, but what fun learning about such an interesting rain forest creature. This painting is in the private collection fo Allie Elzemeyer of Memphis, TN.
	"Memphis" acrylic on masonite 16 x 20 unframed 26 x 30 framed
	"Elephant Walk" acrylic on canvas 22 x 27 1/2 unframed 34 x 40 framed
	"Mwamba II" acrylic on canvas 30 x 40 gallery wrap
	"African Bull " acrylic on canvas framed sold
	"Akili" acrylic on canvas 24" x 36" unframed gallery wrap	This painting was done for my show "Capturing the Wild: Images of the Memphis Zoo". Exotic animal paintings are among my favorite as they seem to have the most beautifully intense eyes. The African name "Akili" means intelligent, and like all the big cats, the cheetah is a very swift, schrewd, and effective hunter.
	"Benji" acrylic on canvas 30 x 30 unframed gallery wrap sold	This tiger painting was a commission for Sanda Smith from Aloha, Oregon. Sanda, while on business in Memphis, saw one of my tigers, but decided she needed something a little smaller. Not knowing what Sanda wanted to name her tiger, I let my daughter's third grade class choose it's name. A few days later, they decided on "Benji", since they liked the fact he had a nice face and didn't look mean. Sanda agreed that the name Benji was a good match for her painting's sweet face and big paws. Benji is now happily living on the west coast.
	"Buddy" acrylic on canvas 20 x 24 unframed gallery wrap Sold	The chimpanzee is one of our most recognized and favorite species of monkey. Whether it be a circus, zoo, movie, TV commercial, space or science project, they have been an integral part of our world for hundreds of years. With such human like similarities, we see in them a little of ourselves as they use their hands to pick up and hold things, kiss and care for their babies, and desire a need to live in a community of family. "Buddy" is my tribute to our love for the chimpanzee and is in the private collection of Cynthia and Dennis Sexton.
	"Dos Tigres " oil on canvas 24 x 30 (unframed) 36 x 42 (framed)	We have a wonderful zoo here in the Memphis area and many of the subjects I paint come from there. As this pair were sunning themselves, one looked straight at me through the camera lens. My feelings about this painting are mixed, I know our zookeepers are wonderful caregivers, but this tiger's beautiful eyes made me feel a little sad. "Dos Tigres" means two tigers in Spanish.
	"Elok" acrylic on canvas 20 x 24 gallery wrap sold	How can anyone watch the antics of an orangutan and not smile. Having a face only a mother could love, they are among my favorite to study and photograph. Born in our Memphis zoo, Elok lived with his mother and sister until he was old enough to go to his new zoo home in Houston. Elok was such special cargo, that he was flown to his new destination in a passenger seat along side his caregivers to begin his life as a Texan. This painting of "Elok" is in the private collection of Kenneth and Jennifer Kohrs from Richmond, Texas.
	"Eye of the Tiger " acrylic on canvas 30 x 30 unframed gallery wrap Sold	This tiger is still one of my favorite paintings and is in the private collectin of Beth and Jeff Elzmeyer of Memphis, TN. It is hard to invision that this sweet looking face can become a meat-eating predator in seconds.
	"Le Le" acrylic on canvas 30 x 40 unframed gallery wrap Sold	Le Le, pronounced luh luh, is our male panda that will be living at our Memphis zoo for the next ten years. I wanted to do a bright painting of Le Le in a bold red setting. I felt the black and white panda against the red background would really showcase his plush fur and teddy bear face. It's very rewarding when something you paint can help someone, especially children. This painting helped a charity raise money for the Child Advocacy Foundation, and is now in a private collection.
	"Leonardo" acrylic on canvas 30 x 40 gallery wrap	I really enjoy painting my animals on large canvases because they become almost life size. Leopards are so beautiful and painting them in their natural habitat, rather than how I get to see them in our zoo, gives them a comfortable and dramatic setting they so deserve.
	"Leopold" acrylic on canvas 20 x 24 unframed gallery wrap Sold	Painting exotic wildlife is still one of my passions. Their powerful, muscular bodies, elegant coats and dramatic faces are without a doubt what attract painters and photographers to all corners of the world. The leopard is one of the most beautiful of all the big cats, and naturally, their eyes are what I am drawn to the most. I loved this photo and couldn't wait to see it become a painting. "Leopold" is in the private collection of Julie and Charlie Fisher of Saulsbury, TN.
	"Lion King" oil on canvas 24 x 36 unframed gallery wrap Sold	Unlike tigers, lions have a distinct cosmetic difference between the male and female, as why the male gets painted more often. There is also a big difference in the physical condition and appearance of a lion that has been in captivity and one who has had the hardships of living on the African plains. Brittle weathered manes, deep scars from old battle wounds and hunger are not the lions I get to see in our local zoo. As you can see, this male lion has never heard of Africa.
	"Mwamba" acrylic on canvas 30 x 40 unframed gallery wrap	Red is one of my favorite colors in a painting. I was once told by a teacher to be very careful when using red, your viewer will think it's an overpowering color and too much will ruin your painting. Well, that was almost a dare for me to put it everywhere. Red to me means bold, power, strength, as in the name "Mwamba", which in the country of Tanzania means "strong". Who can't look at a male bull elephant and not feel his overwhelming power.
	"Ndembo" oil on canvas 16 x 20 (unframed) 26 x 30 (framed)	Africa, where else can one see this massive, powerful creature full of impressive grace and intelligence. As large as his is, the male elephant will still spread his ears to make himself appear even larger to any wildlife he believes is a threat. Elephants try to establish their dominance through these threat gestures and only fight as a last resort. In South Africa, Ndembo, means elephant.
	"Night Watcher" acrylic on canvas gallery wrap sold	In the private collection of Dale and Al Ross, Cordova, TN
	"Predator" acrylic on canvas 30 x 40 unframed gallery wrap sold	I am always drawn to the sleek, beautiful movements of tigers. Of all the wild animals, I've probably painted them the most. This tiger was just getting up from the shade to slowly sneak towards his prey, and I couldn't resist painting the intensity of his eyes and face. "Predator" is in the private collection of the girl's basketball coach at the University of Memphis, Blair Savage Lansden.
	"Raji" acrylic on canvas 24 x 36 unframed gallery wrap	This youthful male tiger was another image I could tell would make a good painting. I gave Raja a real push with intense color and used a darker background to make his orange coat and white beard stand out. No matter how many tiger paintings I do, I still get a thrill to see one come to life.
	"Shardul" acrylic on canvas 36 x 36 unframed gallery wrap	Painting tigers with their beautiful fur, sleek bodies, and exotic eyes make them one of my favorite subjects. The name "Shardul" is Indian for tiger and this particular tiger is a Bengal. Aside from the Bengal tiger, the Siberian, and the Sumatran are the three species that most people know. I'm probably drawn to the Bengal because its coat is the brightest and most colorful, but I have many paintings of the Sumatran because that's what we have in our Memphis zoo.
	"Simba" acrylic on canvas 24 x 30 gallery wrap sold
	"Tumai" acrylic on canvas 30 x 24 unframed gallery wrap	Tumai is a silverback gorilla that lives in our Memphis zoo. He will sit for hours just looking out over the crowds of people who are trying to get a good look at him and the other gorillas that live on his compound. They sometimes look so human, it's amazing.
	"Two to Tango" acrylic on canvas 24 x 36 unframed gallery wrap Sold	Giraffes have a unique pattern that most people recognize immediately. Our Memphis zoo has a wonderful collection of these beautiful creatures, and they love to embrace each other in such affectionate ways. This painting is on its way to Chicago, Illinois, to be in the private nursery collection of Nicholas Swayne Latham. Baby Nicholas' parents are Swayne and Sara Latham.
	"What's Black & White" acrylic on canvas 24 x 30 unframed gallery wrap
	"Ya Ya" acrylic on canvas 30 x 30 unframed gallery wrap sold
	"Ya Ya & Le Le " oil on canvas 36 x 24 framed sold In the private collection of Catherine and Lawrence Conn of Memphis, Tennessee	In 2003, and after much political negotiations, our Memphis Zoo finally received pandas Ya Ya and Le Le. On loan to us for the next ten years from China, they have brought great joy and entertainment to the thousands that have come to see them. This painting has been another good one for me winning two People's Choice.