Talk About Art

Many people are attached to their first baby blanket, and a surprising number of adults still possess it in parts or entirety. Generally, it's a quilt, fuzzy fleece, or knitted/crocheted heirloom.

Artist Sandra Haynes possesses such an heirloom, but it's . . . different from the standard baby blanket. Haynes' childhood treasure is a bobcat hide, taken from an animal that her mother shot when it was raiding the family henhouse.

"Being around wild animals has always been a part of my life," explains the wildlife painter from Heppner, OR. "Dad and some of his brothers, all woodsmen, spent a lot of time with me in the heavy timber, teaching me everything about the life of its inhabitants."

As a result, Haynes began drawing at the age of 3, and what she drew were animals: horses, moose, bear, deer, cougars, foxes, skunks, raccoons, mountain goats, wolves, turkeys. The reference shots for these animals Haynes takes herself, either by finding the animals in game parks or farms, or by hiking out into the deep wilderness and tracking down her prey.

Her medium of choice is scratchboard, which results in highly detailed, intricately realistic portrayals of her image. She also works in oil, as well as graphite and pan pastels, these latter on a surface called Duralar drafting film. Taking advantage of the semi-opague surface, Haynes applies the foreground of the drawing on the front of the film and the background on the backside, which shows through the front.

"The Duralar allows for an artistic interpretation of depth in a drawing not achieved any other way," Haynes says. "The method is a creative dream with endless possibilities."

Through October 19, Wenaha Gallery (219 E. Main, Dayton) is showcasing Haynes' wildlife art at a month-long Art Event. Haynes will be in the gallery in person Saturday, October 5, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. during the gallery's Autumn Art Show, and will regale visitors with her wilderness experience stories, as well as answer questions about the unique techniques she uses in her art.

Haynes will be joined by bead weaver Alison Oman of Clarkston, WA, and acrylic painter Paul Henderson of Yakima, WA, who is presenting his Moods of Highway 101 artworks. Framer/chef Savonnah will prepare her signature artisan treats, this time featuring locally sourced honey.

(Wenaha Gallery is open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.)