Linda Besse

For years I have wanted to do a painting which is not square nor rectangular. An isosceles trapezoid is the shape which appealed to me first. For some reason, that shape seemed to call for zebra. *****Original Oil by Linda Besse, $6000 including custom framing.

One of the most stunning birds of Africa, (and possibly on any continent) is the lilac-breasted roller. Often spotted on the top of trees or a dead limb, this beauty is the national bird of both Kenya and Botswana. **** Original oil by Linda Besse, $1850 including custom framing.

Painting an animal in motion can really make a painting sing. The colors of the red fox can create a symphony. **** Original oil by Linda Besse, $1100 including custom framing.

I've found a curious thing about spending time in polar bear country. I'll spend hours in a small willow blind scanning the horizons for polar bears. Just when I know I've spotted one, a quick look through the binoculars will reveal a large shiny....... boulder. Twenty minutes later and the sun reflecting off another boulder looks just like a polar bear. But, when a polar bear comes into view it is so obvious. Their white hollow fur almost glows and there is nothing quite like it. Then I wonder how I could have ever mistaken a glacial erratic for this magnificent creature. It is that glow which the background is designed to enhance. *****Original Oil by Linda Besse, $9000 including framing, WINNER BEST IN SHOW, National Oil & Acrylic Painters' Society Spring 2020

Just like parents are supposed to have no favorite children, maybe wildlife artists are supposed to equally enjoy all the earth’s creatures. Well, I have to admit I am most partial to leopards. It is not only their beautiful coat which draws my attention. The versatility of climates they can inhabit, their stealth, their incredible strength per pound make this my favorite big cat - and animal. ****Original Oil by Linda Besse, $5000 including custom framing.

The moose is the largest and heaviest of the deer family. Bull moose can sport enormous antlers in addition to their large frames. I am still impressed when much smaller cows walk through our property. **** Original oil by Linda Besse, $1700 including custom framing.

The quaint fishing village of Menemsha on Martha's Vineyard Island harkens back to an earlier time. Some of the old fishing boats still call this harbor home. While the term Old Salt generally refers to someone who has sailed for many years, I like to think this boat has also earned the title. **** Original oil by Linda Besse, $1150 including custom framing.

How close is too close? Is he one step away or only half a step? Backlit by the sun which just crested the horizon, this male lion was a dramatic sight. As he kept moving closer, I could feel what humans must have felt for 1000s of years. Fear and awe. ***** Original Oil by Linda Besse, $15,500 including custom framing.

The second most widely distributed raptor species (after the peregrine falcon), this bird of prey can have a wing span of up to 71". Found on all continents except Antarctica, the osprey’s worldwide distribution is only present in five other land based species. **** Original oil by Linda Besse, $1100. including custom framing.

This fleet-footed animal of the North American plains is neither an antelope nor deer. The last surviving member of the Antilocapridae family the pronghorn has been in North America for over a million years. **** Original oil by Linda Besse, $1000 including custom framing.

The Pryor Mountain wild horses are descended from Spanish Colonial horses and have been roaming these mountains in Montana and Wyoming for more than 200 years. On my field encounter, I saw more than fifty different horses, all in beautiful shape. ****Original Oil by Linda Besse, $12,000 including custom framing, WINNER OF THE Jean Bowman Award, American Academy of Equine Art National Exhibition 2020.

The razorbill or lesser auk is a seabird which nests along coastal cliffs. I had the chance to see the world's largest nesting colony in the west fjords of Iceland. This pair was just off the Bird Islands of Nova Scotia. Currently the population of razorbills makes them among the rarest auks in the world. **** Original oil by Linda Besse, $2850. including custom framing.

The black-bellied plover’s striking white and black feathers are unique to the eastern shoreline. Most other shorebirds have some brown or monochrome feather patterns. This plover species is a real standout in his environment. **** Original oil by Linda Besse, $1400. including custom framing.

Do you have a GREAT dog? Linda will capture your best friend in your favorite hunting spot. Contact Linda for details.

The Amur tiger (previously referred to as the Siberian tiger) is also at home in the water like its cousin the Bengal tiger. In this painting I wanted to explore reflections in moving water. ***Original Oil by Linda Besse, $8700 including custom framing.......... Giclee canvas prints - $150 to $500, total edition of 70 signed and numbered prints, more details here: https://besseart.com/prints-34.html

Seeing master paintings in person is inspiring. Watching others experience them yields another dimension to my viewing. In one of the galleries of the National Art Gallery, Smithsonian, there was a grouping of Hudson River school paintings. I spent a bit of time there admiring the work and watching their impact on the people who looked at them. ****Original Oil by Linda Besse, $4000 including custom framing.

The call of the yellow-headed blackbird has been compared to the sound of opening a rusty farm gate. Despite this unflattering depiction, this blackbird’s head simply glows in the sun and brightens a stand of cattails. **** Original oil by Linda Besse, $1950 including custom framing.

Having spent time in the midst of a caribou migration, I have wondered at the great distances they cover in some rugged terrain. Rarely do they seem to rest, but this bull has found a quiet spot in the tundra. **** Original oil by Linda Besse, $1000 including custom framing.

Seeing Rubens’ Daniel in the Lions’ Den is an experience. It hangs in the National Art Gallery of the Smithsonian. The sheer size coupled with all the lions make it a dramatic, profound piece. I thought it would be a technical and artistic challenge to paint his painting at an angle and add my own twist. ***** Original Oil by Linda Besse, $5500 including custom framing.

One of my favorite summer eastern shorebirds is the ruddy turnstone. The male’s orangey feathers are the brightest on the beach and their dark and white feathers create a beautiful pattern when they fly. **** Original oil by Linda Besse, $1400. including custom framing.

Wild horses seem to be one creature iconic to the West. In looking for a contemporary depiction, I came up with a gold metallic “sun” which the horse was sprinting by. ****Original Oil by Linda Besse, $4700 including custom framing.

While at Deception Island off the Antarctic peninsula, I spotted this old whaling skiff. Based on its condition in this highly preservative climate, it could have been over 100 years old. The nesting gentoo and chinstrap penguins took little notice of this bygone remnant. **** Original oil by Linda Besse, $4000 including custom framing.

Roseate terns, like most terns, are migrating masters. The North American group travels from Nova Scotia to South America and the European group travels as far south as southern Africa. As we emerge from Covid-19, I thought the free-wheeling movement of this dynamic birds would feel like the joy we experience in once again connecting with our friends and family. **** Original oil by Linda Besse, $2700. including custom framing.