Living with Wildlife June 12 2026, 0 Comments
By Kimberly Nicoletti
While spending time in the mountains, we catch glimpses of wildlife, and we may even be able to study — from a safe distance — the likes of moose, fox, deer, owls and more. When indoors, art brings us up-close and personal with wildlife in a way that just isn’t possible out in nature. It allows us to literally usher their essence into our homes.
Doyle Hostetler's moose, Lex Lucius' horse and Pete Zaluzec's bison hang together in one collection
Once that special wildlife painting takes up residence in our home, it deepens the bond between us and nature. As the National Wildlife Federation points out on one of its blogs, that creates a sense of connection, caring, curiosity and, often, conservation efforts.
We become more mindful of cleaning our yummy-smelling barbecue after cooking burgers, so the bear that comes sniffing it out (a true story that happened to us last month) doesn’t get tangled into authorities’ two-strike policy. We become more aware of how light pollution can disorient birds or leave prey more vulnerable to predators. The discussion around wolves becomes more nuanced.
Both Allison Leigh Smith and Doyle Hostetler portray the “personalities” of wildlife — each with its own story. Allison Leigh Smith often surrounds her animals and birds with flora and fauna, reminding us how important trees, bushes and flowers are to their survival. Sometimes, she frames them within a circle to remind us of the circle of life.
Doyle Hostetler refrains from bold color within his photorealistic paintings. Though he portrays all kinds of animals, from bison to birds, for the last couple of years he has been called to depict wolves. We bet they will be a big part of his upcoming exhibition, highlighted by his appearance in the gallery later this summer, on August 21st and 22nd.
"Dreams" by Doyle Hostetler
These days, rather than just focusing on one or two, he’s conveying the pack mentality through multiple wolves, highlighting how they communicate — and survive. In addition to showing their bonds, it makes for interesting commentary within our modern society.
“(Community) is innate. In the old days, you had the neighborhoods, and I just don't think the community in a tight neighborhood is what it was,” Doyle Hostetler said. “The wolves have no other way to survive but to rely on themselves in the group, whereas humans, unfortunately, can survive alone — it’s kind of a satirical situation that the needs get trumped by the evolution of all this technology, where animals just don’t have that opportunity.”
He creates a bond between us and the animals not only through every detailed hair he captures, but also within their eyes. While some wolves might be napping or snuggling up together, many of his wolves, bison and horses seem to follow you as you move left and right.
“I walk back and forth through my studio, and I adjust the pupils to where they need to be. It's all about the geometry. I don't see it when I'm sitting at the easel. I have to get up, and I have to walk across the room to see if they're following me, and if not, I have to adjust them,” he said. “A lot of the joy I have is when kids come in and they're looking and they're like, ‘Oh my gosh, look at that big wolf.’ And I say, ‘See if this thing follows you when you walk across the room,’ and it's like a little shock and awe.”
His technique infuses even more life and intensity into the animals, bringing out their personality, just as Allison Leigh Smith’s wintery owl looks intently from a tree or the “Buff and Shine” baby buffalo she painted followed his curiosity, approaching her when she visited a Navajo reservation.
"Amidst the Mist" by Allison Leigh Smith
Meanwhile, brother-and-sister team Barak and Miri Rozenvain present an extremely colorful and playful way of interacting with wildlife paintings. Their 2Wild collaboration includes mixed-media on wood paneling cut in the shape of a bear or moose head, which fit equally into kid’s rooms or living rooms, with various hues matching any interior design.
Overall, wildlife paintings remind us of what we treasure: time spent in nature or trips we’ve taken, whether it involved dog sledding or spotting a moose in Alaska for the first time.
“People connect with occurrences that they've had in the wild in an instant — it just takes them back. It's like that song that makes you remember an instance,” Doyle Hostetler said. “It's a time capsule that takes you back and makes it that much more present every time you see it.”
In a beautiful way, art has the same exact impact.
"Shining Spirit" by 2Wild