C&T Publications 50 States of Art - 2015 | Page 74

Phyllis M. Beiser - Mississippi I am a self-taught artist originally from south-east Louisiana, now a permanent Pass Christian, Mississippi resident. My journey in art began early in life, I could not wait to create some kind of masterpiece, be it a sketch, pastels or simply crayons. Being the daughter of a trapper, I grew up with wildlife surrounding me. My love for the marshlands and swamps comes very naturally, my love of art is just who I am! I did not begin to market my paintings until after Hurricane Katrina. The acceptance that I immediately received toward my work has been a great inspiration to me. Earlier in life, the desire was there along with a constant drive buried deep down inside, but being a single mother of two boys, time did not avail my talent. I am now making up for time with an unstoppable perseverance! My work is primarily wildlife and that being mostly birds. I work exclusively in oils on canvas. My technique requires many thin layers of paint to give somewhat of a transparency. I challenge myself with each piece that I create to not only accurately capture the image of the avian subject, but also to capture as much of their natural habitat along with their personalities. I think that this not only makes for a beautiful work of art, it also makes that work interesting. I am constantly looking for or thinking about my next composition. I see this in cloud formations, in the way that the sun dances off of a wave, a tree bark pattern, color variations of leaves, it is everywhere that I look! I suppose that I am a nature enthusiast to the core and strive to show that on each canvas that I pick up. To sum it all up, I am an artist of humble beginnings and deep faith. Web Site: http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/phyllis-beiser.html Here is my piece. It is called Moonlight Serenade The painting featured 'Moonlight Serenade' is one of my newer compositions and a perfect example of my work in general. Pelicans are among my favorite subjects to paint along with the beautiful wading and shorebirds that can be found along the Gulf Coast of southern Mississippi. Quick Notes: Both male and female Pelicans are in charge of building nests, which are usually located in trees located near water. The nests are made from feathers, leaves and sticks. With a bill that can reach 18 inches in length the Pelican has the largest bill in the bird kingdom. Their throat pouch can hold up to 3 gallons of water, and although used mainly for feeding, it also serves as a built-in air conditioner, which the pelican will swing about on warm days in order to cool itself. Pelicans live in large colonies sometimes numbering in the hundreds, making them a very social species. In the wild they can live for up to 30 years. 69