ARTIST: Don Balke (North Carolina, born 1933)
TITLE: Siamese and Exotic Shorthair Cats (titled on label)
YEAR: 1987
MEDIUM: gouache and watercolor on board
CONDITION: Very good.
ART SIZE: 14 x 12 inches / 35 x 30 cm
BOARD SIZE: 22 x 20 inches / 55 x 50 cm
SIGNATURE: lower right
NOTE: This painting was published on the Fleetwood First Day Cover for the U.S. 22c Siamese and Exotic Shorthair Cats stamp issued February 5, 1988. Perhaps the most talked about of all domestic cats is the mysterious Siamese. Descended from the "royal cats of Siam," these felines once inhabited the spectacular palaces of Thailand (Siam) as sacred guests. Their appeal may well be based on their affectionate natures, and though their voices are mournful and nagging, they use them to "talk" to their human friends, making these cats appear almost human themselves. Long and slim, the Siamese has a short, sleek coat and almond-shaped eyes of a sapphire hue. Because of their beauty, grace and gentle dispositions, Siamese Cats are among the most desired cats of all. The Exotic Shorthair, on the other hand, is a domestic cat, related to the Persian. Like other domestic shorthaired cats, this breed is proud and fearless, but with an easygoing, faithful nature which is so characteristic of the shorthair breeds. For show, this cat should display ears well set apart and rounded at the tip, a squared chin, rounded eyes and a broad, full-cheeked face. With a muscular body and broad chest, the Exotic Shorthair is generally an excellent show cat. Many cities sponsor such shows with national associations setting the accepted standards for judging. But show, or not, these two breeds of cat will always have the attention of American pet-owners, because of their exceptional good looks and interesting traits.
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 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.