A four-day event taking place in Vancouver, British Columbia, the Artists for Conservation Festival embodies a love and reverence of nature and wildlife, immersing visitors and collectors in a variety of visual art centered on the natural world. This is international artist group Artists for Conservation’s flagship event, established back in 2011 as a means for “social change through better appreciation and understanding of nature.”

Laurie Riley, Indian Rhino, acrylic, 18 x 24”

The 2021 exhibition features 200 paintings and sculptures by 173 artists from more than a dozen countries. Of those, 90 will be on display at the premiere. Approximately 40 percent of proceeds from artwork sales benefit conservation and environmental education, and each artwork is dedicated to supporting a conservation organization of the artist’s choice.

Johanna Lerwick, Sagebrush Sentinels, oil on canvas, 24 x 15”

Suzie Seerey-Lester, Light Pool, acrylic on Belgian linen, 24 x 48”

Among the artists in the exhibition is Tammy Taylor, whose sentimental oil paintings pay homage to the animal kingdom, capturing each subject’s unique character through loose, gestural brushwork. Using a limited earth-tone palette, she creates life-like images that masterfully capture light and texture and are rich in depth, energy and emotion. Her passion is creating art with a purpose for her clients that inspire joy and evoke emotion while radiating the beauty of creation.

Cher Anderson, Aussie Banks, acrylic on gesso board, 24 x 32”

Like many of her counterparts, Johanna Lerwick works in the style of realism. “Through independent study I have learned a multiple-layer technique to build density of the animal’s fur with very fine brushstrokes blending my oil colors wet on wet with each layer,” she says of her process. “I strive to capture the beauty of each animal and why they deserve to share this world with all of us.”

Dorothy Tinning, Trees - Saving Each Other and the Planet, acrylic on canvas, 60 x 42”

Joyce Trygg, Cat Nap, acrylic, 11 x 14”

“I believe in appreciating, respecting and caring for our biosphere,” says Dorothy Tinning. Her acrylic Trees - Saving Each Other and the Planet is painted at an extreme angle, the viewer positioned downward looking up into the pines. “I love to work in bold acrylics to achieve the desired beautiful colors of nature. Trees improve our air quality, stabilize the soil and support the wildlife,” she says. “I love the outdoors, and hiking through our forests is like entering a sanctuary, under the protection of these fragrant trees.”

Laurie Riley is a signature member of Artists for Conservation and an award-winning member of the International Guild of Realism. In her work, she strives to give the viewer an awareness that every creature is sentient and to inspire the preservation of wildlife and habitat. “I enjoy portraying creatures whose beauty is not always recognized,” she says. Her piece in this year’s show depicts an Indian rhinoceros.    

Tammy Taylor, Basking In The Light, oil on board , 8 x 14”

Lynden Cowan, Under Cover, oil on gallery wrapped canvas, 36 x 48”

Cher Anderson finds comfort, escape and great pride in painting. She says, “Bringing beautiful animals and birds to life on the white page is a way of showing hope not only for humans but the wildlife that has suffered so much during the past two years with terrifying fires...With my art, I hope to bring awareness, beauty and joy in bright colors.”

Cher Anderson, Phoebe’s Fire, acrylic on gesso board, 24 x 15”

For 25 years Suzie Seerey-Lester sat side by side painting with her husband, world-renowned wildlife artist Sir John Seerey-Lester. Her love of wildlife and traveling the world allows her to create real life images of animals and birds she experiences first hand. She also teaches with wild animals like mountain lions, wolf packs, snow leopards, tigers, black bears and grizzly bears.

Suzie Seerey-Lester, Sky Dive, acrylic on panel, 48 x 12”

Cher Anderson, Touch, acrylic on gesso board, 18 x 36”

“My preference is to paint close-ups of baby animals, and because of my involvement with Artists for Conservation, they tend to be endangered species,” says Joyce Trygg. She hopes the lion cubs in her painting Cat Nap draw viewers to the plight of lions, which are critically endangered in parts of Africa.

“I am so grateful to AFC for providing a vehicle which actually helps endangered species...Through AFC, I support the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust. The tiny orphaned elephants they care for truly inspire me!”

Suzie Seerey-Lester, Barn’s Early Light, acrylic on panel, 16 x 12”

Lynden Cowan says the name of her oil painting Under Cover was chosen not “just because of the canopy of trees blanketing overhead.” She says, “The subtle reason that most people miss unless it is pointed out to them, is the beautiful barred owl, sitting high in the trees under cover, surveying his domain. Most of this painting was done using triple-zero brushes, and I enjoy the challenge of bringing a blank canvas to life, spending most days in the studio when not traipsing through the woods.”

The Artists For Conservation Festival takes place at Canada’s VanDusen Botanical Garden from September 23 to 26.

Artists for Conservation Festival
September 23-26, 2021
VanDusen Botanical Garden, 5151 Oak Street, Vancouver, BC V6M 4H1
(778) 340-0749, artistsforconservation.org

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