How-to demonstration at museum

Walking through the Art and the Animal exhibit at the Nevada State Museum, many patrons may wonder how the array of creatures are created. What allows the artist to take paint and brush and make birds, reptiles and mammals come to life?

Now, residents of Northern Nevada are being given a rare look at the creation of a painting by a master artist.

Internationally known wildlife painter Carel Brest van Kempen, renowned for his intricate detail, will give a demonstration of his style and technique from 1-3 p.m. Saturday at the museum.

"It will be a Julia Child-style demonstration with four paintings in various stages and I will walk them through a painting from beginning to end," said Brest van Kempen. "This will be a new experience, doing it like this, I'm really looking forward to it."

The demonstration, titled "A Passion for Detail: Acrylic Techniques Add Vitality to Wildlife Painting," will show Brest van Kempen's process including conception, composition, drawing, anatomy, perspective, use of color and technique.

"When we learned he was coming, we asked him to do the demonstration and he was more than happy to. This is an extremely big deal because he is very well known and it could be a once in a lifetime opportunity for local residents," said Teresa Moiola, public information officer for the Nevada Department of Cultural Affairs.

This demonstration is hosted by the Museum as part of the Art and the Animal exhibition show and sale running through Nov. 28.

This international exhibit, organized by the Society of Animal Artists of New York City, brings together 100 world-renowned painters and sculptors from the United States, Canada, France, England, Australia and the Netherlands.

Brest van Kempen's Yellow-Crowned Night Heron Portrait is among the 123 pieces included in the exhibit.

"I sent that one because that was one I had available. It takes me a long time to complete a painting and I only have several new ones a year," said Brest van Kempen.

Brest van Kempen said to complete a medium-sized painting, such as the Yellow-Crowned Night Heron Portrait which measures 24-by-18 inches, takes about a month.

Brest van Kempen said he considers himself lucky to be able to spend his life painting wildlife.

"I have been really lucky in that I have two big passions, art and biology and I have been able to meld the two," he said.

n Contact reporter Jarid Shipley at jshipley@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1217.

If you go

What: Artist demonstration with Carel Brest van Kempen

When: 1-3 p.m. Saturday

Where: Nevada State Museum, 600 N. Carson St.

Admission: $5 adults, $3 seniors, under 18 free

Register: Advance registration required. Call (775) 687-4810 ext. 237

Other events:

• 3:30-4:30 p.m., Dr. David J. Wagner, curator of the Society of Animal Artists Inc., is scheduled to present a slide presentation and lecture titled, "The Story of American Wildlife Art."

• 4:30-5:30 p.m., sculptor and plastic surgeon Burt Brent will present "Sculpture: Inspiration and the Creative Process."