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About David N. Kitler Original Paintings

Subject

Some wildlife artists further specialize on animals from a particular region (e.g. African vs. North American) or on specific types of animals (e.g. birds vs. large mammals).  David, however, has always been fascinated about wildlife in general.  Through his paintings you can also experience the pleasure of really observing all types of animals:  from the small creatures we can find in our own backyards, to the exotic and rare animals he has traveled the world to observe.

Style

In nature, the closer you look, the more there is to see.  A flower may be beautiful enough from afar, but looking closer you will find that each element of the flower has its own unique beauty.  David's realistic style is an attempt at mimicking this characteristic of nature.  As you look closer, you will be rewarded by noticing details you would not see from far away:  an exquisitely shaped blade of grass, a scar, or even a missing tooth.  These details reflect reality and differentiate David's paintings from "generic" depictions of animals.

Media

David works in a variety of media, including pen and ink, pencils, oils, and acrylics.  However, most of his more recent paintings have been done in acrylics, primarily because of how versatile this medium is.  When thinned with water and used as a wash, acrylics behave like watercolours; when combined with retarders or gels, the drying time can be slowed down or the viscosity increased, so that acrylics will handle like oils.  David finds that he achieves the best results when he uses a number of different techniques for applying acrylics within the same painting.  Acrylics also provide the artist with the ability to make changes.  David likes to know that he is not limited by his medium and that he is free to make adjustments to his image throughout the painting process.

Support

The flexibility of the medium and the inspiration of the composition would be of little value if the image was to change over time, becoming discoloured or stained.  Therefore, David cuts his boards from the best available woods, and spends a great deal of time preparing each one to prevent chemicals and adhesives in the wood from seeping into the painting.  After the painting is finished, David again adds several layers of protective coating, this time to prevent external pollutants (e.g. smoke, dust, etc.) from damaging the painting surface.

To own a David N. Kitler original is to own a frozen moment

in the story of our natural world.

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