The Medal of Excellence was awarded for this 31" by 23" mixed media watercolor (watercolors, gouache and aquarelle pencil), for exceptional artistic talent and the outstanding achievement in the creation of the artwork, in the 2022 juried Artists for Conservation exhibiton. The painting was featured in the 2022 Artist sfor Conservation calendar.

HONORABLE MENTION

This award was won in the 2022 juried exhibition, for "MONEYPENNY", the secretary bird from KBOPT, and is a 31" by 23" watercolor (no white pigment used at all). It features a real character, who was rescured by my friends at the Kenya Bird of Prey Trust, in Nivash. This unfortunate bird had such a badly mangled leg when they discovered her, that they had to amputate. Th eteam created an innovative prosthetic limb out of bamboo, and for several months Mioneypenny would terrorize the Egyption vultures she shared her enclosure with by standing on the prosthesis and kicking out tat them (Secretary birds hunt snakes in the grasslands and have faster reactions thna  black mamba!).

Sadly, one cold winter night the prosthesis got entangled and Moneypenny died of hypothermia from long contact with the cold ground. This painting is a tribute to a fierce and proud Kenyan raptor.

Artists for Conservation monthly award for artistic excellence and contribution to conservation. Much appreciated.

This prestigious inaugural award was won by the 23" x 31" watercolor of "Tim" One of the last and largest of the giant tuskers, and received at the wards ceremony in Tucson Arizona. Tim was featured in the 2022 Artists for Conservation Calendar.

Big Tim, as he was affectionally known by rangers of the Ambosselli Elephant Trust conservancy in South West Kenya, was a true gentle giant. Fanous for mischevious but friendly interactions with visitors and staff. His tusks were over 7 feet in length and he was a survivor of several farmer traps and attacks and close calls with poachers. Sadly, Tim died in March 2020 of natual causes at over 55 years of age. He wasmuch loved and will be missed.

This was an interational competition run by then Fractal Design Painter (Now part of Corel Paint). First proze was an all expenses paid trip for two to visit the great galleries and art museums of Italy. We stayed 16 days and it was the experience of a lifetime. For the painting, I coupled my love of wildlife with my enjoyment of fantasy and kids' book illustration. It's part of a self authored book about a kid whose wild imagination runs away with him and features 12 spreads of richly detailed hide and seek scenes, with many hidden creatures and objects, interspersed with running scenes across unique landscapes.