ARTIST: Don Balke (North Carolina, born 1933)
NAME: American Mink
YEAR: 1984
MEDIUM: gouache on board
CONDITION: Excellent.
SIGHT SIZE: 11 x 13 inches / 27 x 33 cm
BOARD SIZE: 18 x 20 inches / 45 x 50 cm
SIGNATURE: lower right
NOTE: This painting was originally published on the Fleetwood commemorative cover for Balke's Baby Wildlife of the 50 States, postmarked June 1, 1984. In the wilds of Kentucky, baby American Minks playfully follow their mother as she dives for food from their waterfront home. Like their relatives, the otters, the young Minks enjoy sliding down banks, splashing into the water -- warm from summer's sun. As their mother fishes for the crayfish, frogs, salmon and trout that will make up their dinner, the young indulge in noisy, rough-and-tumble mock fights. Another day, the mother and her brood will slink through the tall grass as they silently search for muskrat, or water voles or birds that nest upon the ground. Occasionally, mother will stop, eyes glued to one spot, all senses alert, and pull herself up on her front legs, craning her long neck for a better view of the territory. The youngsters will mimic her, all the while learning the tricks of survival. Finding their prey on the land and in the water, Minks are among the few carnivores who have conquered both. The male Mink, who is twice the size of his female counterpart, may wander long distances, while the female stays near to her babies, within a much smaller range. From February to March, both male and female purr to each other as the mating season progresses. In a few months, five or six kits are born. They remain in their cozy nest for six to eight weeks. Allowed to enjoy their youth, the baby Minks must also learn quickly to hunt and fish. Come Autumn, the family will break up and its members will lead solitary lives until springtime comes to the Kentucky wilderness.
PROVENANCE: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation.
CATEGORY: old antique vintage painting for auction sale online
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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.