Video made at the Deer & Turkey Expo

Larry Seiler interview- Bowhunting.com/

Summing up the Whitetail Deer & Turkey Expo...Alliance Building, Madison, WI

I've attended the expo..but this my first year with a booth.  Thousands and thousands of sportsmen, women and children.  Wonderful hearing all the comments, the interest in my sporting portraits.  Meeting sporting television celebrities, authors...great and legendary hunters.  Some awesome opportunities brewing...some national recognition among sportsmen and our outdoor heritage.

My son Jeremy was the catharsis to once more revive and take this past offering of mine as an artist off the shelf.  The last of this type of show were the deer classics of the 80's...and more humble beginnings by everyone.  My schtick...my schpeel really, is I don't need another "job"...I already have my painting, my teaching...books, videos...but, my enjoyment as a sportsmen and the kindredness with those likeminded, it is a passion...a joy to paint that pure moment where all the planning, the years of effort, knowledge...all come together.  The smile displayed over one's game not one of arrogance as those hostile to hunting might suggest, nor gloating...but a deeper satisfaction and joy of a long anticipated hope finding its culmination.  A respect...for the game...the pursuit.

Here was my booth...and my son Jeremy working the booth.  At the start of the second day...just before doors opening, sharing with a friend and biologist for the Ruffed Grouse Society Gary Zimmer, having their booth right next to ours...

Here, yours truly...a bit tired admittedly, taking a moment from working on this painting of hunter Jeff Hendzel and a fine cougar taken this winter in Idaho...

Here is the finished painting, signed...a few touch ups.. 30"x 20" oil on linen...

...and...our first day, Jeremy and I were most excited to meet Lane Benoit, of the legendary Benoit family...of Vermont and Maine, the finest trackers of deer, stalkers and hunters there is...with many monster bucks to their credit. Won't get into details...but my son and I hold some expectation that we may well have opportunity in time to come to enjoy a hunt with this master!!!  And...what a hoot Lane is...greatest stories he tells...and funny!

In sum...what a grand time it was...and most memorable was doing this with my huntin' buddy, my son Jeremy. It doesn't really get better than this!

To those new friends, fellow sportsmen and women we met, it was truly an honor.  To the many that took a business card of mine and found themselves here, welcome!  If you have any questions, feel free to contact me...and I'll be glad to help you.  Look forward to perhaps working with you for your own sporting portrait.  My post that follows here explains the break down of my fees for portraits.  It was great meeting many of you!!!  Let's do it again...soon!

Ordering a Sporting Portrait...Sizes...cost structure

At this time...and foreseeable future...my prices for sporting portraits are based on $3 per square inch. I take 30% of that total as a downpayment, non-refundable...(your commitment), and upon completion of the work will contact you. You will be responsible for shipping and insurance costs...and I will build a protective crate. Shipping by UPS or Fed Ex...approximately five days after final payment clears.

I have a commission contract...will fill it out and send you either by email or snail mail...which you then sign and return.

Best photos are high resolution digital images which can be emailed. I will work from photos that are sharply focused...good photos..which I will scan and work from on my computer.

Average sizes and prices worked out, to give you an idea-

11"x 14" = total of 154 inches @ $3 per sq in = $462
16"x 20" = total of 320 inches @ $3 per sq in = $960
20"x 30" = total of 600 inches @ $3 per sq in = $1800

Other popular sizes are 12"x 16", 18"x 24", 24"x 36"

Bit more work...and now ready for the Expo...

This is about as far as I want to start and take this one.  Far enough to show my intent to take this piece....but yet enough work to keep me busy for the three day Expo event.


I know I'll get stopped continuously talking and meeting sportsmen and women...which is all fun, but will be trying to paint at the show.  Click on image to bring up larger view..


see ya at the Expo....March 30th thru April 1st...Alliance building, Madison Wisconsin..

Mountain Lion... 30"x 20"

Starting a new one...on Senso linen, stretched on thick frames as a gallery wrap.  A nice nice mountainlion taken by my brother in law, Jeff Hendzel out west recently...and will be working on this one at the Whitetail Deer & Turkey Expo behind my booth last weekend of March, in Madison...at the Alliance Building.  Hope to see some of you there...

clicking on image brings up larger view....

this shows the first blocking in stages...and the painting progressed quickly from here...

Calling it Done..."Jeremy's Eight"...

Now the wait to fully dry, then varnish...and believe this one is going to look very nice on the wall!  

the second image shows the top wrap painting, as are the sides.  Clicking on images brings up larger view...

 

Jeremy's Buck...most almost done!

20"x 30" on stretched linen...gallery wrap...completed the camo jacket, antlers, and painted the modeled rendering of a monochromatic set of hands.  Last step will be to repaint hands with more color for good solid flesh tones...also included, a side view...which reveals that the sides of the gallery wrap linen support are also painted, which will give the painting more presence seen in a room's open space.  Oh, and should remind, clicking on the images brings up a larger view!