The Clatsop Community College painting class is presenting a collection of wildlife paintings during the month of March at Old Town Framing, 1287 Commercial Street in Astoria, OR. Students will be in attendance during the Second Saturday Artwalk on March 11 from 3 to 4 p.m. The proceeds of all sales will be donated to the Wildlife Center of the North Coast in order to help support their mission of “promoting compassion, empathy, and respect for all life through wildlife rehabilitation, wildlife conservation, and ecological teachings.”
A number of the students describe their thoughts and experiences working on this project:
Sharyn Hedbloom: “I have spent years taking photographs of pelicans. This last year, I have been particularly intrigued and focused on the white pelicans here in Astoria. I have chosen to do different representations of pelicans; mono prints, mixed media pieces and painting the Pelicans at the Wildlife center. It is said that pelicans bring good luck and prosperity. Seeing and creating images of pelicans has brought me so much joy.”
Haylee Waldmann: “To me, there’s nothing more magical than seeing an owl in the wild. When I heard we were doing this show, I knew I wanted to paint one right away. As creatures of the night, with agile senses, they represent the most mysterious aspects of nature.”
Dick Magathan: “I chose to paint this opossum because it was such a beautiful photograph that shows how really attractive they can be. Contrary to popular belief, opossums are very gentle creatures. Acting fierce is only a first line defense, but they will not bite. They are America’s only marsupial and are very beneficial because of the ticks and other nasty things they eat. Rattlesnake anti-venom was developed from their blood as they are immune to their bite. I especially like his hands. The title of my painting is Awesome Possum.”
Madeline Poukkula: “This being my first painting of a living creature, I wanted to select a photo that I knew I would enjoy studying for an extended period of time. Thus, I chose to paint this extremely adorable Common Murre. I am fortunate to have a friend who works at the Wildlife Center of the North Coast who was able to share detailed information about this particular bird. Common murres have no sexual dimorphism, so there is no way to tell if this is a male or female. This common murre chick was given the title, 22-299, due to the fact that it was the 299th patient at the Wildlife Center of the North Coast in 2022. They were only 148g when they were found beached in Seaside, and was in care for 89 days. It was fully waterproof, dive feeding, and 830g at the time of release. With the help of the Warrenton bar pilots, this particular murre was released with a few others just a few miles offshore, on the Pacific Ocean.”
Tyler Bennink: “My favorite thing about living in the Astoria area is the incredible biodiversity. I especially have a fondness for the birds that call our waterways home. This cormorant’s vibrant blue mouth caught my eye and filled me with wonder. Please consider supporting the wildlife center and their mission to rehabilitate injured native species.”
