These paintings all have a nature theme to them, whether it be funky trees, birds floating about or a sunset spreading rays of joyous light throughout the painting.  Conservation and environmentalism are serious subjects that we all need to be aware of and do our part to preserve the beauty and life giving source our planet provides.  But, at the same time, I want to create art that portrays this beautiful world we get to call home, in a joyful, uplifting way through bright, bold colors and just a happy, almost dancing vibe with the art.  We should feel good about helping to take care of our home, and my way is by creating joyful art to share with the world and give back through my art.

To see all of the original paintings available in this collection, and the entire MAD Wonderland Series, click HERE.

​Follow along as I teach you how to create your own original, abstract landscape Painting on YOUTUBE! This is my first painting tutorial video, so bear with me, haha! I plan on doing more, so the process should hopefully get better, but I think this was a good, fun start. I've never taught art before, but I did teach high school Geography and World History for a short stint, so I have a slight understanding of teaching. I hope you enjoy learning how to create your very own art with my tutorials and would love to see your creations! Tag me on Instagram @madartstudios and/or Facebook @MadartStudios

My first painting I chose to create is one of my color study abstract landscape paintings.  They are easy to follow along with, but are also fun to create and go perfect with any decor.  "Lush Orange Forest" was created on a 12"x16" canvas panel, but I plan on creating new ones on 16"x20" gallery wrapped canvases in the future.

Be sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel to be notified whenever knew MAD Tutorial painting lessons are posted!

The original painting is also available for sale HERE

I grew up off grid, in one of the most beautiful, wildest places on the planet, the Alaskan Wilderness.  The Tongass National Forest to be precise, the largest remaining old growth temperate rainforest in the world.  Tongass is home to not only my family, and myself when I visit every summer, but to so many species of beautiful creatures, from brown bears, wolves to bald eagles...and the glorious trees, sooooo many trees!  I have a bit of an obsession with trees as you might be able to tell from all my art, haha :)  One of my earliest memories was of sitting on my dads shop overlooking the bay where Humpbacks and Orcas frequented, and was struck by a lone black silhouette of a barren tree contrasted against all the lush greenery of the living trees around it.  I sat and sketched that tree over and over again for hours, something about it captured my attention and I've been fascinated with trees in my art ever since.

When I heard the Trump administration opened up 9 million acres of the Tongass National Forest to development a few months ago, ie clear cutting, I was beyond upset.  This forest is a national treasure and needs to be protected and preserved for future generations to enjoy, for the animals that inhabit it, and for the carbon cleaning resource it provides to not just the United States, but for the entire planet.  I will personally be reaching out to President Biden to repeal this order and hope that the lawsuits that have been leveled against the order will also put an end to it and leave these old growth trees, some up to 800 years old, to continue to provide homes for wildlife, indigenous populations and help control climate change.  

Only a few miles from where I grew up, and now have my own tiny Alaskan Island (MAD Island), they clear cut the mountains a few years back and it's just depressing to pass by it and see the total devastation.  The photo below is just a glimpse of what it looks like, imagine this over 9 million acres...and it takes years and years for it to recover back to what it once was.

In keeping with my efforts to live a more eco friendly, sustainable lifestyle, I switched from using plastic plates as my paint palettes to a traditional artists palette.  The old palettes would just get thrown away, a compilation of acrylic paint piled onto plastic, basically something that would never deteriorate and just add to the pile of plastics proliferating landfills.  By using these new palettes I can avoid any kind of disposal issues at all by turning them into a two sided original work of art, that will basically last forever!  A win-Win!  One side is an abstract mosh up of the colors I used to paint with, this one even has some spots of glitter on it for a little extra sparkle :)  The other side I paint an actual painting, so you have two options to display your art.  It comes with a little easel to display, or you could hang the abstract side through the finger area, the other side would be kind of lop sided if hung up.  It is also coated on both sides with art resin to add extra sheen, depth and make the colors just pop!!

15% of the sale of this painting "Home Sweet Home" will be donated to the Global Wildlife Conservation, an organization I have collaborated with, and contributed to in the past, to help “conserve the diversity of life on Earth".

​I've been following the plight of the Northern White Rhino for several years, and was deeply saddened when the last surviving male Sudan, passed away in 2018. Leaving behind only two females left in the world, neither of whom is capable of bearing children, even though Sudans sperm had been preserved before his death.  There is hope though, as recently scientists created 5 viable embryos from the sperm, and the eggs of the two remaining females, Najin and Fatu.  The plan is to impregnate Southern White Rhino (close relative species) surrogates with the embryos and bring the Northern White Rhino species back from the brink of extinction.  It's a risky process, but one that could be used to save other species as well if this goes as planned.

​The photo of the armed guards watching over Sudan 24/7 has haunted me since the first time I saw it.  That we as humans would push a species to extinction through greed is incomprehensible to me, and that only with it's dying breath, humans decide to finally step in and do something.

​The problem is, humans need to be proactive and NOT force extinction on any species, ever, we have not right to do so.  The Northern White Rhino is at this stage due solely to the greed of humans and the harvesting of the Rhinos horns, and now scientists are rushing for a way to try to save the species at the last hour.  This is the story of far too many endangered animals on the planet, forced to the point of extinction by humans, and then humans have to come to the rescue.  We are better than this, and need to end the needless slaughter of animals for human consumption, and the greed of profit.  Once all of these animals are gone, they won't come back, and then where will we be?

In Keeping with my efforts to minimize my carbon footstep and live a more environmentally friendly lifestyle I've started using Canson recyclyed Bristol Paper.  "Never Give Up" is created on their 19"x24" paper and the original painting is offered for sale HERE. 

 15% of the sale of this painting "Never Give Up" will be donated to the Global Wildlife Conservation, an organization I have collaborated with, and contributed to in the past, to help “conserve the diversity of life on Earth

I was extremely disturbed when I saw this.  I can't imagine how that poor creature must have felt to be held down while a human forcibly etched out "Trump" on this manatees back.  And for what purpose?  To make a political point...on a wild animal?  The entitlement to think that in any way this was okay is honestly disgusting and deplorable.  This is a protected animal, with it's numbers decreasing in the wild, and they already have to endure being struck by propellers on a constant basis as humans inhabit their space.  Hopefully the person(s) will be found and punished to the fullest extent of the law, and let this be a lesson to anyone who thinks that animals are a political prop to be abused in such a way....it.is.not.okay. 

"The Center for Biological Diversity today announced a $5,000 reward for information leading to a conviction in an incident involving a threatened Florida manatee in north Florida’s Homosassa River. A statement issued late today by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service indicates that someone apparently scratched the word TRUMP into algae on the animal's back." (Source: https://biologicaldiversity.org/w/news/press-releases/5000-reward-offered-for-info-on-trump-carved-into-florida-manatees-back-2021-01-11/)

​I've always had a fascination with these beautiful gentle giants, and just a few weeks ago my daughter and I were running along a marina when we spotted two adults and a baby feeding right at the docks edge.  We watched them in awe for awhile as they weren't bothered by all the humans enjoying their beautiful presence, as they peacefully grazed on sea grass.  To think that someone would intentionally cause distress, or harm, to one of these amazing creatures is upsetting to even think about.  We are wards of this planet, and all the animals on it, we should be protecting them, not abusing them.

After this incident I felt moved to create a manatee painting to bring attention to this amazing creature and to just let them be, they are not here for us to use in any way shape or form.  They do not cause us harm, so let us do the same for them and provide a safe environment for them to flourish in.

In Keeping with my efforts to minimize my carbon footstep and live a more environmentally friendly lifestyle I've started using Canson recyclyed Bristol Paper.  "Gentle Giant" is created on their 19"x24" paper and the original painting is offered for sale HERE. 

 15% of the sale of this painting "Gentle Giant" will be donated to the Global Wildlife Conservation, an organization I have collaborated with, and contributed to in the past, to help “conserve the diversity of life on Earth