ARTIST: Don Balke (North Carolina, born 1933)
NAME: Shorthair and Persian Cats
YEAR: 1987
MEDIUM: gouache on board
CONDITION: Excellent.
SIGHT SIZE: 10 x 12 inches / 25 x 30 cm
BOARD SIZE: 15 x 19 inches / 38 x 48 cm
SIGNATURE: lower right
NOTE: This painting was originally published on the Fleetwood First Day Cover for the U.S. 22c American Shorthair and Persian Cats stamp issued February 5, 1988. Harking back to the days of Ancient Egypt, the classic Egyptian tabby is the one from which all breeds of cat are thought to have descended. Sporting an auburn coat striped with white, this first shorthair was predecessor to millions. Even today in America, shorthaired cats are the most common, and are found in variations of black, white, tabby and tortoiseshell. The Black Cat, of course, gets the most attention, as its color and stealth have lent it great mystery. Superstition surrounds this cat and its actions are carefully monitored by wary people throughout the world. A true White American Shorthair is very rare and takes years of careful breeding to achieve. In its pure form, this cat has a pink nose and blue eyes. Tabbies are striped and come in varying colors -- gray, brown, red and silver among them. They are generally quite common. Another breed of Shorthair, the Tortoiseshell is distinguished by patches of black, cream, or red. Interestingly, Tortoiseshell Cats are almost always female. A variation is the more common Calico Cat. Also featured with the American Shorthair, a member of the longhaired breeds, the Persian is considered among the elite of domestic cats. Handsome and aloof, the Persians are often blue in color, although it is the White-Haired variety that is presumed to be the original long-haired cat. Black Persians are very rare, but they are exceptionally beautiful and are highly prized by their owners.
PROVENANCE: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation.
CATEGORY: antique vintage painting
AD: ART CONSIGNMENTS WANTED. CONTACT US
SKU#: 117598
US Shipping $49 + insurance.

BIOGRAPHY:
Balke, the youngest of ten children, grew up on a farm in northern backcountry of Wisconsin. His family was completely dependent on the land; they tapped trees to make maple syrup; used crosscut saws for logging and horses for their farmwork; they raised crops for themselves and as income. His upbringing instilled in him a love of nature and wildlife. He received his first art award in a Wisconsin state-sponsored art contest while at elementary school for a painting of a black bear roaming in the woods. After serving in the US Army, he married Barbara Schernick[citation needed] and they moved to Chicago where he enrolled in the Academy of Fine Arts, now known as the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. During his time at the Academy, he specialized in still-life paintings. After graduating, he was hired by a Chicago illustrating studio and eventually moved back to Wisconsin where he worked as a commercial art director. He won many awards for his work as an art director and illustrator. On his own time, late in the night, he painted and developed his skills as a wildlife artist. After 17 years, he left his work as an art director to devote himself completely to watercolors and wildlife art. By 1979, they had six children and a home in the village of Thiensville, Wisconsin. Balke's love of nature took him to the NC mountains where he bought 200 acres in McDowell County and built a home. In 1985, a gallery was added and the Don Balke Wildlife Gallery was opened. In 1987, his work was chosen as the illustration for the official NC Zoo poster. In 1992, the United States Post Office issued a series of first-class postage stamps portraying five different species of hummingbirds designed by Balke. Balke travels to Africa, Australia, Ireland, the Caribbean, and across the 50 United States for inspiration and research. His wife, Barbara Schernick Balke, does extensive research on the animals and their habitats in preparation for the paintings and does much of the photography on research trips. He is best known for his detailed and realistic watercolor paintings portraying wildlife in their natural environment. In 2000, he transitioned to a more impressionistic style with oils portraying scenes from Yosemite National Park in California, Ocracoke Island on the Outer Banks, and Grandfather Mountain in North Carolina.