24" x 36"

In the past two years or so, many of us have felt this emotion for one reason or another. Some of us have acted out against the feeling of oppression and some have stayed silent, preferring to go along with the crowd. We have learned a lot about humans in general. Hopefully we also have learned a lot about ourselves during this unusual time period.

36"x48" tall

MOUNTAIN TRAILS SANTA FE GALLERY

This beautiful female cougar is doing exactly what I seem to be doing now days. Just staying close to home and cooling it. The stone on this piece was the ultimate challenge and I allowed it to design itself and become organic. It is something I have strived for. I have learned so much from watching other artists. I credit watching Robert Bateman create a piece for this approach to my subject matter.

24"X24"

MOUNTAIN TRAILS SANTA FE GALLERY

Another from the emerging from the Pandemic series, Homage to all of us who are happy to be able to go out again.

18"X24"

MOUNTAIN TRAILS SANTA FE GALLERY

This piece is part of my emerging from the pandemic series. I feel we are all awakening from a very bad dream.

24 x 36

MOUNTAIN TRAILS SANTA FE GALLERY

Mam bear seems very pacific here, but just try to harass her baby bear! I have seen my share of both in the Teton National Park.

24 X 36

MOUNTAIN TRAILS SANTA FE GALLERY

Sometimes, when we age, we just enjoy the company of a loved one by sitting near them, not speaking. Together, at last. Pitt Pens on Claybord.

18"x36"

ARIZONA SONORA DESERT MUSEUM EXHIBITION

Once again this is a study in patience using Pitt Pens and dots and lines on White Clayboard to make this drawing come to life. The photo was provided by the fisherman, Steve Pettit. The river he caught this magnificent one in is the same one I fished with him for this guy. Mine were much smaller!

24" tall x 36" wide

I was actually working on this piece when I did go to a psychic for a reading. I used to visit a very famous one every year when I lived in the Chicago area. He never quite hit the mark with my predictions. I had done a phone chat with this California Gal and she picked up on a lot of things spot on. The chance to meet her in person was offered to me and we had such an intense reading that we both were exhausted when it was over. When I told her of the piece I was working on and the title she told me she HAD been an oracle in Greece in one of her earlier lives. I...

24" x 24"

One more big cat. this was the first of my Corona Virus releases. As an introvert, I did not suffer with the "stay at home" order. It was just another day in the studio for me but I did absorb the Television news as well as all of the controversy on the internet. One of my photographer friends captured this Raven (Corvid) and I have always loved it. Thank you Judy Johnson for the reference. I normally do all of my own photography but this one was needed to say what I was feeling during the onset of the pandemic. None of us saw this coming. It just appeared like a black...

24 X 36

The first in a new series I am compiling featuring little known species from right here in the USA that are Threatened or on the brink of being declared Endangered. Man caused mortality is the primary cause for this fish to be on the Threatened list in the Snake River Basin, one of the most important areas for its population. It is partially due to climate change and warmer waters but mostly to mismanagement by humans, due to the construction of four Federal Dams on the Lower Snake River that destroyed the migration corridor for Snake R Basin salmon and...

36" x 36"

Arboretums are my friend. Such marvelous and well kept flowers always abound. The photo for this piece was taken while with a group of artists who worked in every other medium than my own and loved sketching and plein aire working. We were at our annual exhibition in Steamboat Springs, Co during the early summer and visited their gardens. I am sure many more pieces will come from the trip alone. I chose this as the first because I have attempted them on the black surface as a scratchboard and wanted to test myself. I put the blue behind just a portion of it to "POP" it...

36 X 36

Number 2 in my newest series featuring some of the prettiest longhorns in Texas. This one is on the white claybord with Pitt Pens drawn on then scratched. the black area show are where the wall would be!

12 X 36

MARCUS ASHLEY GALLERY

California gull in flight. I shot the reference photo from a cliff in Northern California and wondered how I could work it in to a piece. I also had a great shot of another from the same day so I felt a diptych of opposites would be interesting on the two types of scratchboard available now. I guess you could say this was part of my Yin/Yang stage.

12 X 36

MARCUS ASHLEY GALLERY

California gull in flight. I shot the reference photo from a cliff in Northern California and wondered how I could work it in to a piece. I also had a great shot of another from the same day so I felt a diptych of opposites would be interesting on the two types of scratchboard available now. I guess you could say this was part of my Yin/Yang stage.

24 X 36

MARCUS ASHLEY GALLERY

24 X 36

MARCUS ASHLEY GALLERY

36 X 36

MARCUS ASHLEY

This is another of my symbolic series. The ravens can be any annoyance that you choose to try to get rid of. In real life, Grizzlies will often look for ravens as a sign of a carcass that they can feast on. For me they stood for small bouts with depression that I was able to shoo away.

36" x 24"tall

When I saw this one of my photos I was attracted to it for some reason. The shadow over his shoulder from his hump was so dramatic. Searching for a title I came across a quote from the former President of India, "India needs to learn to walk in her own shadow" . I think that is a good way of explaining my philosophy of life. I prefer to be thought of as an original.

12' tall x 24" wide

Wiley Coyote, blaming things on the roadrunner again. wait until I get my roadrunner piece done!

12 X 24

MARCUS ASHLEY SOLD

On a trip to photograph bears, hopefully, I came across these two with a Cracker Jack Box.....didn't you always want to know what the treat was inside?

12 X 24

MARCUS ASHLEY

On yet another trip to Yellowstone looking for bears these two showed up after a rain. Magpies are hard enough to catch a good glimpse of, let alone a photo so I was happy one was thirsty!

16 X 20

MOUNTAIN TRAILS SANTA FE GALLERY

Ravens tend to get "fluffed" if their territory is threatened by others. Here are two such guys,

16 X 20

MOUNTAIN TRAILS SANTA FE GALLERY

Here are the other two Ravens defending their territory.

20" wide by 16"tall

MARCUS ASHLEY

Yellowstone has offered me multiple changes for some great reference shots of Bison. This is one of the first ones I have attempted to do and am having fun figuring out how to do the different types of fur. I cannot wait to get to my winter ones. Keep Watching.

12" wide x 24" tall

MAXWELL'S ART GALLERY

This is a very special piece of work for me. It signifies the loss of a child and the effects that it has on the mother. No one will ever be able to understand that particular loss unless they have personally experienced it. It was an assignment for the Haggin Museum Show with American Women Artists. We were asked to reinterpret some existing art in their collection. It won the "Nature Interpretation Award"!

18" wide x 24" tall

MARCUS ASHLEY GALLERY

It seems to me that most males of most species get grumpier and grumpier as they age.

18"wide by 18" tall

While chasing down a Moose in the campgrounds outside of Jackson Hole, WY, we happened to spot one far off along the river. So did many others with cameras so it became a traffic jam. We pulled over on the opposite side of the action and got our gear ready. When we looked back out we could not see him anywhere. Just as I said, "where is that darn Moose now?", he appeared just outside my driver's side window.

24' tall by 60" wide cradled

This piece serves multiple purposes. I always like to show the difference between a subject on a black background versus one on white so others can grasp the intensity of color that happens when it is surrounded by black. This piece is also a bridge between a new medium that I am looking in to using more often, Markers with India Ink in them that can be used on the white clay base for scratchboard and then cut back and redrawn like the black surface. I am loving it! It is totally drawing, no painted washes of color involved at all. My inner Van Gogh is...

18" wide x 24" tall

This old man was spotted in the plaza of the Pink Church in San Miguel Mexico, leading a younger Donkey behind him. I finally figured it out that he was training her to carry a pack and the farmer was introducing her to the noise in the plaza.

18" wide x 24" tall

This is Jenny, the younger woman I mentioned in the story of Jack. They are a pair and really should not be separated.

20" wide by 16" tall

MARCUS ASHLEY

The Grizzly Encounter is a great place to get good photos of our awesome friends. I have not been blessed by the real experience in the outdoors, but I actually prefer this way. I also love the backlighting on this handsome guy.

60"x18"

I am a lover of being ones own boss. I also say the best committee is a committee of ONE, therefor the title of this piece, a play on words of course. The eye itself is the only part of the piece that seems centered and not full of anxiety and confusion, kind of like the Hurricane we went through as I was working on this piece!

24" wide by 36" tall

MARCUS ASHLEY

I know it's been done before but it is truly a challenge to do it in scratchboard. Keeping the crack lines on the hide black while removing the lighter areas is harder than anything one does in the medium. Fur and feathers are very easy, so I am working toward my ultimate challenge of a full sized Elephant.

24" tall x 18" wide

MARCUS ASHLEY GALLERY

This young Vervet looks not to be old enough to drink, but all ages are known to steal your drinks while you are not watching them and on Safari. The wine is well paired with my favorite water crackers and Aged Parmesan, Smoked Gouda and Brie (Triple creame, of course). Yum

24" tall x 18" wide

MARCUS ASHLEY GALLERY

Number seven in my Monkey business is a fun Lemur, basking in the tropical sunshine with his very 'beachy" drink, umbrellas and all.

24' tall x 18" wide

MARCUS ASHLEY GALLERY

This very Mod Colobus Monkey is number nine in my series and looks the 'Metro' part. It is only fitting that he sports a chic modern drink, especially because he is a leaf eater!

36" wide by 36" tall

Mathew McConnahey where are you. This piece was done to commemorate his nude bongo playing in South Austin. Not really but I did put in a very tribal design that looks as if it would be found on a drum. These Bongos were from the Sanctuary at Fossil Rim outside of Dallas. They really are a handsome pair.

24"wide by 18" tall

When my first two grandkids were young, I took them to an apple orchard to pick apples with out their parents for the first time. We rode the hay wagon, picked apples, then went to a petting zoo on the farm. I certainly can relate to the whole scene after that day. I was pooped and they were too.

36x36

Is he gentle or not? If I was Goldilocks I would not stick around to find out. Stop in at the gallery in Santa Fe to see if she is there along with the rest of the bears!

18 x 24

MANITOU GALLERY SOLD

This sweet baby looks as if someone stole his porridge or slept in his bed, doesn't he? This was created as part of the Tales of Enchantment show in Santa Fe, NM He did not last long!

24" X36"

Pitt Pen drawing on Clayboard from a photo that I took when I visited the Pine Nut Herd of Carson Valley Nevada. There will be more like this. It was a stunning adventure!

12 x 24

MANITOU GALLERY SOLD

A yummy ode to the fairy tale with a magnificent looking wolf. On view in Santa Fe

60 X 36

36" wide by 60" tall

MARCUS ASHLEY GALLERY

Hurricane Harvey hit us hard. My former studio and George's Used Car Dealership was totally submerged underwater from the Colorado River in Texas. The storm sat just to the North of it and emptied rain for three days. When we knew that the "cone of opportunity" showed it's path to be straight at out town, we were a thousand miles away. All we could do was sit and watch it move closer and direct actions from afar. We managed to minimize the effects and recoup much quicker than most. I wanted to capture the feeling of being doomed, but...

24" wide by 72" tall

This piece arose from the decisions that needed to be made during the Corona Virus in 2020. I can only imagine how the Judges, Mayors and Governors must feel every time they need to decide what to do and what restrictions to impose on their constituents. Let alone what parents feel about schooling their children and what is best for them. As you will note, This female Cougar is balanced on several branches but has weight on the min trunk as well. she has a goal spotted but in order to take the leap she must carefully redistribute her weight or the branches will...

12" tall x 24" wide

I guess I am on a big cat fixation, specifically Mountain Lions. this beautiful one was not to be resisted. I used it at my new gallery to show the folks exactly how you do a scratchboard piece. It did not get done for a long time because I always had to stop and explain things. Once I took it back to the studio, I made a great deal more headway on it. It turned out to be looking more dreamy eyed that focused or fixated. I may revisit it at another time and cropping and put a bit of intensity in those eyes, but for now there is nothing wrong with dreaming!

18" wide by 24" tall

MANITOU GALLERIES SOLD

We first visited Santa Fe to bring artwork and meet the personnel of Manitou Galleries. It was springtime and all of the trees were in full bloom. I made sure I had brought my camera and took many photos of the blossoms as well as the many birds. The top half of this piece was from a photo taken right i the courtyard of the Canyon Road gallery. I knew I just had to use this scene somehow, and the challenge to have two animals was enough to make me figure out haw to do it. The young cougar photo was one I thought I would never use. It...

12 X 12

MANITOU GALLERIES

12 X 12

SOLD

36" X 24"

I refer to this piece privately as Solitude because it is more about choosing to be alone versus being isolated.

24" wide by 60" tall

AWA AWARD WINNER AT STEAMBOAT SPRINGS MUSEUM

Cats are my love, as are powerful messages. This female cougar is poised to jump and has her eye on the prize. I echoed the message of Sheryl Sanders book by titling it “Lean In”. There is no turning back now but getting to that point of courage has taken women a long time. We are still reinforcing each other as is seen by the new Advertisement for Bumble, a dating app, which says “Make the first move”. That applies to life not just relationships. Many opportunities are lost by women because we hesitate. Believe!...

24" tall x 24"wide

MARCUS ASHLEY ART GALLERY

I chose this piece as the first to work on after a long time off. I needed to get back in the groove and get productive but had lost my own Focus, so I chose this guy. Sometimes your mood inspires the art you choose and sometimes the art serves to change your mood, much like music.

18" tall x 24" wide

December finds the rut in full force in the Northern section of the Bitterroot-Selway Wilderness. A friend of mine surprised these two while he was fishing a secluded stream. They watched him with as much wonder as he watched them. They stayed around long enough for him to snap a great photo capture off. I have tried my best to replicate it using India Ink Markers and scratchboard techniques. This is a brand new medium which I LOVE!

triptych 56" wide by 24" tall

This is just the beginning of my "Big Dog" series of larger than life portraits of dog faces. The ears are detachable and each of the parts are actually boxes with scratchboard on the one surface. Very unusual. It made it into the Society of Animal Artists' Annual Show and is currently touring the nation going from one museum to another. Always thinking on the box, not outside of it!

13" x 13"

Handsome as he is, most would not think of him as pretty yet the designs from 1997 sure make him. I enjoyed taking primative symbols from tribal designs and making them into the corner inserts.

13" x 13"

Handsome as he is, most would not think of him as pretty yet the designs from 1997 sure make him. I enjoyed taking primitive symbols from tribal designs and making them into the corner inserts.

13"wide by 13"tall

Handsome as he is, most would not think of him as pretty yet the designs from 1997 sure make him. I enjoyed taking primative symbols from tribal designs and making them into the corner inserts.

13" wide by 13" tall

One of my designs from 1997 which I completed in 2014. I sure enjoyed doing these then as well as now.

13" wide by 13" tall

I designed the border for this in 1997 but was able to put one of my own lion photos in it instead of the one I had designed in 2014.

13" wide by 13" tall

All of these pieces are also available as silk scarves. I am so happy I found my old designs and added new animal images to them. The tribal patterns on each reflect the feeling of each individual animal.

36" wide by 24" tall

We wanted to try Koi in our small waterlily pond, but went with the less expensive and more adaptable Goldfish first to try it out. Good thing we did because the Raccoons ate them and the pond got green quickly so we converted it to a fountain/reflecting pond that we can add chlorine to and keep clean.

24" wide by 18" tall

I don't know any time of day and any other place that is more peaceful and beautiful but dawn on the ocean. We fish out of Port O'Conner and bait up in the canal. The light was just catching the water when I snapped a photo that I interpreted for this piece. I can almost smell the salt air when I look at it.

24" wide by 18" tall

During my "Reflections" period, I photographed many bodies of water. This was the entry bridge to Cottonwood Park in Richardson, TX, that led into the semi-annual art show there. It was one of my favorite shows and settings. Ducks usually swam along with geese on this pond creating wonderful images.

24" wide by 18" tall

Chicago's Shed Aquarium yielded this unusual reflection. It is actually looking up at the surface of the water with the lights reflecting on it. If you look carefully you can make out one of the sharks!

I took this photo while on an animal photo trip, on the last day. The lighting was perfect and I kept is aside for about 12 years because the flower was wilting. Now that I am using the Pitt Pen Markers with intense color, I revisited this subject. It turned out so beautifully that I had to give it this name to make all of us stop and think about the aging process and exactly when IS "prime". This flower has yet to fully develop and put forth it's seeds after is has been pollinated. So even if it's glow is fading, it will enrich us even more by going to seed and bringing another...

24"x24"

I seem to always gravitate toward my own photographs that show some type of emotion. This surely does, with the wolves exhibiting common canine behavior. It brought me back to the day when my spouse and I realized all we had worked for at his business was going under water in a flood. We could do nothing about it but hold each other and cry.

24 wide X 24 tall

Is he searching for yours, or are you searching his? Eye contact says it all

36" x36"

This was another of my experimental pieces, half done with India Ink Marker on Claybord and the bottom done MY traditional method of cutting the black Scratchbord and then painting in washes of colored India Ink. I was trying for depth and certainly got it here. "Striking" is a term I often hear applied to this piece. Photo credit for snake: Steve Pettit. (I would never be that close to one!)

36" wide by 30" tall

I have the actual shell that posed for this piece, but I dropped it and it shattered. I have glued it back together, but it will never be the same. I love the design that nature makes.

24" wide X 22" tall

MANITOU GALLERY SOLD

One more human emotion that can be visualized in animals is that of adoration. These guys are going through their greeting ritual and pure love is shown right here, right now. I just thouroughly enjoy watching animals do this. Wolves are not the only ones as our own domestic house cats do it when they have been separated for a while.

24' by 48" wide

You may remember the "sketch that I did last year of this Monumental piece. It was done using colored India Ink markers and turned out spectacular. I debated using Silver Leafing for the sky in the original because I loved the contrast of the bright sky to the dark rugged mountain the real monument was carver out of. When I put it out to the general public, they liked the black background best. SOOOOO I decided to keep my options open and will offer the prints with either Gold/Copper/Silver foil skies or plain black. You will see that I DID use gloss varnish on the...

36" tall by 48" wide

Yes, he is HUGE. And he is gentle yet strong, a very powerful piece. I named him this because it seems that signs are everywhere once you get to the Rocky Mountains to carry Bear Spray and Be Bear Aware. With one this size, that is guaranteed.

24"TALL X 36" WIDE

This is my first true Nocturnal piece. I drew one view of this Longhorn as a daylight piece and then flipped the photo over to do this one. I chose to view the night sky at exactly the time ( two chances, actually) that the moon shadow would be cast in the same direction as the sun shadow did. I took a screenshot using my iPad and an App to secure where the constellations and Milky Way would be at that time. The real trick was to determine how white the whites would be under a full moon. I revisited that just befoe painting this and planted it in my memory as NO...

24" TALL X 36" WIDE

I enjoy the subtleness of this huge cat, just draped over some tree limbs. Many times this is my own choice rather than jumping into the fray. No comment, just sit back and see what the others have to say or what they are doing. Just live my own life!

18' tall x 24"wide

Hmmm, in the current environment politically speaking, this could apply to a LOT of people out there?

24" tall x 36" wide

Another of my "Magic Marker" drawings using the Pitt Pens on Claybord white. This is a reinterpretation of my original "Wild Thing " done in colored scratchboard. Since I have just completed my second bronze featuring this horse, I felt it needed a companion piece.