"Bobwhite" a member of the quail bird family - Richard Sloan Limited Edition Print: 1 of 6 - Donated by Paul and Kim Attwater

Minimum bid will start at $350 for this piece in the SILENT AUCTION. Bids placed in advance of the Feb. 24th event will be taken into consideration. Express interest by clicking the inquire or purchase button and we will get back with you as soon as we can. - Thank you -

Known by many as America's "Dean of Rainforest Painters," Richard Sloan was born in 1935 and received his early training at Chicago's American Academy of Art. He served as a staff artist for Chicago's Lincoln Park Zoo, where he developed his affinity for and appreciation of birds. Following a 1966 sell-out exhibition at the Abercrombie & Fitch Gallery, Sloan traveled to British Guiana to garner inspiration. He would travel extensively for the remainder of his life and is regarded as the first North American wildlife artist to begin documenting endangered, tropical wildlife and habitats. Sloan's work can be found in the permanent collections of various institutions, including The Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., The Leigh Yakwey Woodson Art Museum, Wausau, Wisconsin and The Denver Museum of Natural History, Denver, Colorado, among others. He passed away in 2007.

This print is a limited edition print of 5,000 copies each hand-signed by the artist. The original plates were destroyed after this printing so that no more prints of this painting can ever be made. This piece along with 5 other unique beautiful wildlife Richard Sloan prints were generously donated to the Filley by Paul and Kim Attwater. You may contact the museum directly to inquire about a purchase of the other 5 available pieces. We are honored to help preserve and protect these important pieces of artwork by such a world renowned artist, for the future.

Bobwhite
(Colinus virginianus)
Plate XXI:

The bobwhite is a member of the quail family, and when persons in the eastern half of the United States and Canada refer to “quail”, the bobwhite generally is the bird to which they refer.

The bobwhite is popular. Rural residents have long cherished its familiar “bob-bob-white” or “ah-bah-white” call, given with the last note highly pitched and strong. Farmers like this species because its diet consists largely of weed seeds and insect pests such as grasshoppers, cotton boll weevils, army worms, and cutworms. It also eats large quantities of grain picked up from fields after harvest, but this is not considered harmful to the farmers’ economic interests.

Bobwhites are perhaps best known as game birds. The explosive way in which a “covey of quail” bursts from cover when flushed has startled and thrilled human observers for countless centuries, and has also made these little birds much sought after by hunters. This species has been so heavily hunted that it is protected by law and can be hunted only in a limited season.

A mature bobwhite is 10-11 inches long. Males and females are fairly similarly marked. Mating generally occurs in May, when males can be seen battling each other for females.

Bobwhite nests are always built among tall grasses and placed on the ground. A clutch of eggs typically will range from 10-18. Members of the brood stay together and make up a “covey”, which forages in fields, clearings, and along fence rows. When threatened, they prefer to remain on the ground and run as long as possible among protective grasses and vegetation, but when flushed, they scatter explosively.

Soon however, unless hunters have taken a toll, members of the covey begin signaling in low notes from scattered locations and soon reassemble at a new location.

In winter, bobwhites seek shelter in thickets and brushy areas. They often can be attracted to grain placed on the ground in backyard feeding areas, and sometimes will become rather tame.

About your print…

In this print, you have acquired an original print by one of the world’s great wildlife artists. There are just a limited number of prints of this painting in its original size, and The Society will never publish any more. The printing plates have been destroyed. Every print is perfect -as near to a perfect reproduction as technology will permit us.

Because of the excellence of this art, and the limited number of prints, your print is assured of increasing in value. To protect the quality of your print and its value as an investment, however, there are certain steps you should take in its care.

Seek the advice of a reputable framer in having it framed. They can provide you a wide variety of suitable options in selecting moulding, mats, and mat liners, and a choice of regular or non-glare glass. We strongly recommend framing behind glass for maximum protection.

Important: Never allow your print to be pasted, glued, or otherwise permanently mounted to another surface. This will tend to not only affect the quality of the paper texture, but will lower the value of your print as a collector item.

Your print may occasionally develop slight waves or wrinkles in it. This is due to changing humidity conditions, is normal and is no cause for concern.

You will notice two signatures by the artist on your print. One was part of the original artwork and was reproduced with the painting. The second was placed directly on the print by the artist after he completed inspecting it and is your evidence that this is a genuine limited edition print. Be sure that neither signature is covered by matting when your print is framed, as these signatures are part of the significance of this print.

On one edge of your print is a registration number and a print registration certificate is enclosed with your print. Be certain that this number and your name are registered with the Griggsville Wild Bird Society. This registration service helps protect you in case of loss, theft, or illegal duplication of this print and helps you establish authenticity when placing it for sale.

Display this print with pride, both in the excellence of its art and in the beauty of the natural wildlife heritage it depicts. SJoin with The Society in our efforts to save that beautiful natural heritage. Let us work together to insure that your descendants can enjoy not only this wildlife print as a treasured heirloom, but also can still enjoy the beauty of that wildlife heritage itself.