Hidden Ridge Gallery - Latest Product Updates from Daniel Smith

Alpine Aura

Sun, 03 Feb 2013 22:30:04 +0100

Artist Daniel Smith is coming off a busy year of prestigious invitational shows including the American Masters at the Salmagundi Club, the Prix de West, Quest for the West, Western Visions Miniature show in Jackson and the Small Works, Great Wonders at the National Cowboy and Western Art Heritage Museum. Alpine Aura sold in February at the 2012 Autry National Center's Masters of the American West Fine Art Exhibition and Sale.

The Rocky Mountain goat is a surefooted, North American climber ― the largest mammal above the tree line ― found in some of our most spectacular alpine landscapes. It’s hard not to interpret his pose as that of "master of all he surveys," an apt metaphor for the accomplished artist himself whose reputation continues to soar each year. This portrait of confident strength will make a big statement in human environments from skyscraper offices to mountain cottages.

Size:	26"w x 16"h		Edition:	50
InformArt:	Not Listed		Status:	Available at publisher

Price: $395.00

Cowbird Companions

Thu, 06 Sep 2012 01:24:27 +0100

Congratulations to artist Daniel Smith who is in the middle of another active and productive year! Western Art & Architecture included Daniel and his son, Adam, in their feature story "The Ties that Bind" in the February/March issue and Western Art Collector wrote about the artist's trip to Alaska's Katmai National Preserve and the cover featured his bear and salmon painting, Shore Lunch. Daniel returns to the Quest for the West Art Show at the Eiteljorg Museum in Indianapolis in September, followed by the 25th Annual Western Visions Miniatures and More Show at the National Museum of Wildlife Art in Jackson Hole in September.

Cowbird Companions is an imposing yet playful portrait of the majestic American bison. His massive shoulders provide a temporary resting perch for the nearly constant companion, the cowbird.

In a symbiotic relationship, cowbirds followed herds of bison through grassland to catch and eat the insects that were stirred up from the animal's feet. Thus cowbirds were originally called buffalo birds by early trail herders and cowboys but after the bison herds were decimated, the name "cowbird" was adapted. The nomadic life of the herd prevents cowbirds from building nests and nurturing their young so they evolved into parasitic brooders, depositing their eggs in any available nest built by other species.

The bison is a symbol of North America's Native American heritage. In 1991 delegates from 19 native American tribes formed the Inter-Tribal Bison Cooperative (ITBC) whose goals is to restore the bison to millions of acres of tribal lands — and to a central place in tribal life. "To reestablish healthy buffalo populations on tribal lands is to reestablish hope for Indian people," said Fred DuBray, a member of the Cheyenne River Sioux.

Give this Fine Art Edition by the masterful wildlife artist, Daniel Smith, a place of honor in your home or office.

Size:	16"w x 16"h		Edition:	75
InformArt:	Not Listed		Status:	Available at publisher

Price: $345.00

Fully Engaged

Thu, 10 May 2012 21:53:39 +0100

"Mountain lions epitomize stealth and grace," expresses Daniel Smith. "They maintain fluidity of movement over unseen rock surfaces with amazing agility. They can leap up to twenty feet and subsequently are formidable predators. This great cat's eye contact with its quarry creates a strong focal point and leaves no doubt that this feline is Fully Engaged."

A featured painting at the Jackson Hole Art Auction, this work is as much a brilliant study of texture and form as it is wildlife art. Smith's use of early morning light cast across this sinuous mountain top brings to life the positive and negative shapes of this snow and rock terrain.

Size:	28"w x 20"h	Edition:	75
InformArt:	Not Listed	Status:	Available at publisher
Gallery Wrap:	Available for $30 - Offered for FREE by Hidden Ridge Gallery

Price: $595.00

Stillwater Crossing

Sun, 08 Apr 2012 17:18:15 +0100

Artists become known for signature works and increasingly Dan Smith's "water" paintings are becoming "must haves" for collectors. As is the case for Stillwater Crossing, evidently "must haves" for museum collections as well. Dan created this painting specifically for the Eiteljorg Museum's Quest for the West Art Show last September. In a strong overall showing of art, Smith's painting won the show's Harrison Eiteljorg Purchase Award and is now part of the museum's permanent collection.

It is easy to see why museums and collectors think Smith is doing something special. Water and its qualities are one of the toughest real world experiences to translate convincingly into painting. From the reflective qualities of the placid surface to the bison's turbulent wake, what you see here is flawless. A true signature work from a highly respected American artist.

Price: $0.00

Radiant Repose

Sun, 08 Apr 2012 17:18:15 +0100

"A slight breach in the moisture laden cloud cover allows the sun to penetrate with its radiant warmth," relates Daniel Smith. "The cougar's damp coat emits an ethereal glow as moisture vaporizes into the silent wilderness. The rocky outcrop creates an excellent vantage point for the resting mountain lion as he surveys his domain. My home borders the Yellowstone ecosystem and has a healthy population of mountain lions. It is a rare thrill to experience these elusive predators in the wild."

There is a return to things that radiate the greatness of our national heritage. One of our most renowned treasures is the American wilderness. Radiant Repose captures the essence of the untamed beauty that that makes the wilderness wild. The painting was created for the 2009 Couer D'Alene Auction. Dan Smith is one of the few artists invited to present new works to the high-end collectors that attend, a testament to the stature of this American wildlife artist.

Price: $0.00

Lamar Libations

Sun, 08 Apr 2012 17:18:14 +0100

Lamar Libations was unveiled at the 2011 Prix De West Invitational Art Exhibition and Sale at The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City. Paintings in this show are sold by draw, that is, patrons place an "intent to purchase slip" in a box located beneath each painting. A painting's box can have none, one or may slips depending on its popularity. In the words of one unsuccessful suitor at the event, "The box for Lamar Libations was stuffed. I didn't have a chance."

The Lamar Valley is located in the remote northeastern corner of Yellowstone National Park. A destination for serious wildlife-watching, it is home to elk, wolves, bear and bison. "Bison are the North American version of Cape Buffalo," remarks Dan Smith. "I've been on foot around them in their habitat and to say they are intimidating is an understatement. What I enjoy about this painting is that its sedentary feel is in such contrast to the intense nature of the beast."

"Painting the fur on the American Bison is a challenge in my highly realistic style. But when I do that successfully, you can get a real sense of proximity to this incredible beast. The smooth water of the Lamar River carries golden reflections of the surrounding prairie intermingled with the blue patches of sky. I am really pleased with how this painting came out."

A second chance has arrived for all the patrons at the Prix De West whose slips weren't drawn for the privilege of purchasing the original painting and also for those collectors that missed out on Dan Smith's Sold Out at Publisher Stillwater Crossing. Lamar Libations will be released in both a very limited Fine Art Canvas Edition of 50 and a Fine Art Paper Edition of 100. You don't need to put your name in a box today for the chance to own this wonderful work of art, but if you wait too long you might just have to.

Price: $0.00

Kodiak Collaboration

Sun, 08 Apr 2012 17:18:13 +0100

"The annual salmon run attracts a multitude of wildlife," says Dan Smith. "Grizzly bears feast on salmon as opportunistic gulls function as the cleanup crew. The complexity and efficiency of Mother Nature continues to amaze me. Watching bears feeding alternates between intense activity and calm moments. I don't know if they can smell the salmon when they arrive or if they sense some other change, but once they become aware of it, when one bear goes out, they all go out.

"I'm very fortunate and blessed to refer to these experiences as ‘part of my job.'" And you can easily own the art of this respected artist. Kodiak Collaboration presents that combination of elements for which Smith's wildlife art is known: a majestic wild animal at home in its surroundings from a point of view few of us would ever be lucky enough to see; meticulous detail that gives lie to muscles rippling in stride beneath the animal's fur and the tranquil, mirror-like quality of the water's surface; all presented in a setting composed as only a master artist can.

Price: $0.00

Heavy Hitters

Sun, 08 Apr 2012 17:18:12 +0100

"Living close to Yellowstone National Park has its advantages," relates Dan Smith, "especially when the bison rut is at its peak in July and August. There are three to four thousand bison in the park gathering in groups of 50 to 300. If you put yourself in the right place, you're really going to see the dust fly."

This access gave Dan a leg up at this year's Masters of the American West Exhibition and Sale where the 30" x 48" Heavy Hitters took home the 2011 Bob Kuhn Wildlife Award for best wildlife painting. "It's an incredible honor," Smith states with awe. "I'm the youngest to have been selected for this award. You always hope that your work will be recognized, but never expect it. To be included in the ranks of Bob Kuhn, Tucker Smith, Ken Carlson and Kent Ullberg is a privilege."

Heavy Hitters focus is the look in the eyes of a 2000 pound, six-feet tall by twelve-feet in length bison in rut that lets you know he means business. The ferocity of this intent combined with all that mass is an extraordinary display. The snorting and pawing of dirt builds to the point where the two males make contact. You know by the look in left-hand bison's eyes that this is the real deal.

Price: $0.00

Gone Fishing

Sun, 08 Apr 2012 17:18:12 +0100

"Gone Fishing was inspired by a friend's photo of brown bears taken in Katmai Park, Alaska," says artist Daniel Smith. "The cubs are quite small so this would be in spring to early summer. These little guys will stay with their mother for almost two years and won't reach their full size for another four years. Even the most hardened city-dweller knows about the bond between a mother bear and her cubs. The mother's extreme protective instincts aren't unfounded, especially concerning large boars, which will attack and kill cubs. She may be swimming ahead right now but her ears are cocked, listening for the paddles and grunts from the swimmers just behind her. Getting accustomed to water is not just play time for the young cubs. From late-August to mid-September, the sockeye salmon are spawning in the Brooks River at Katmai National Park and the bears are in and around the water eating fish for weeks, putting on the pounds and fat in preparation for November hibernation.

Collectors know that no one paints wildlife in water the way Daniel Smith does. A master of both his subject and his craft, his art is an essential part of any wildlife art collection.

Price: $0.00

Winters Embrace

Sun, 08 Apr 2012 16:24:23 +0100

In the mid-1990s, when wolves (which had been eradicated from the park) were reintroduced to Yellowstone, Daniel Smith worked with the Yellowstone Wolf Recovery Project, hiking through the park to observe the habits and environmental impact of the newly introduced wolves. Since then, wolves have become one of his favorite subjects and he paints them in all seasons.

"Living in the mountains of Montana has provided me with ample time to experience snow," says Smith. "Fresh snow creates wonderful textures and a quiet serenity that is always inspiring. Wolf reintroduction in the West has rekindled my interest in this extraordinary predator.

"My paintings are a reflection of many years of field work and my passion for the natural world. My objective is to share my passion through a scientifically accurate, realistic painting while maintaining artistic integrity."

Size:	24"w x 16"h		Edition:	100
InformArt:	Not Listed		Status:	Available at publisher

Price: $595.00

Thunder And Dust

Sun, 08 Apr 2012 16:24:23 +0100

Of all the great animals of North America, none symbolizes the American West more than the buffalo. As a source of food and clothing for both Native Americans and settlers, the buffalo supplied our growing nation with the raw materials to successfully become the country we are today. Sadly, they were hunted almost to extinction as human settlements grew and expanded further westward in the nineteenth century. Strenuous human effort to protect and re-introduce the wild buffalo over the last hundred years have proven successful, but the sight of a thundering herd - the breathtaking sight that greeted so many early Americans remains rare indeed. The great herds that once roamed the plains have dwindled, but their place in the history and mythology of our nation is eternal.

Now wildlife artist Daniel Smith brings his spectacular vision to the American Buffalo. Thunder and Dust, his newest Greenwich Workshop Fine Art Limited Edition, celebrates the majesty and power of these magnificent animals. The original painting, Smith's entry in this year's Masters of the American West Exhibition and Sale, was priced at $29,000, but you can bring home the heart of the West for as little as $1250.

Size:	41"w x 23"h		Edition:	50
InformArt:	Not Listed		Status:	Sold out at publisher

Price: $0.00

The Sublime

Sun, 08 Apr 2012 16:24:23 +0100

The lion, Panthera leo, is one of nature's most perfect creatures. In the lion, one may find strength, grace, intelligence, beauty, nobility and utter and exquisite laziness. The lion is so convincing in his perfection that he has managed to become crowned "King of the Jungle," when in fact lions can currently be found in the wild only on the grasslands. Daniel Smith has perfectly captured the glorious, arrogant perfection of the lion in his newest painting, The Sublime. Smith has captured an idyllic moment, where the greatness of the animal kingdom meets with the shining light of the heavens.

Size:	10"w x 9"h		Edition:	200
InformArt:	Not Listed		Status:	Available at publisher

Price: $195.00

The Contender

Sun, 08 Apr 2012 16:24:23 +0100

The majestic elk, one of the largest mammals in North America, is revered in some cultures as a spiritual force. The bugling calls of males during the mating season can, like the howl of a gray wolf, resonate for several miles. This magnificent elk has sounded a challenge for all to hear.

Size:	10"w x 8"h		Edition:	150
InformArt:	Not Listed		Status:	Sold out at publisher

Price: $0.00

The Big Dipper