Background
Balke, the youngest of ten children, grew up on a farm in northern backcountry of Wisconsin.
Balke, the youngest of ten children, grew up on a farm in northern backcountry of Wisconsin.
He is best known for his watercolor wildlife art and scenic oil paintings. 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.
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
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 North Carolina mountains where he bought 200 acres (081 km2) 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 North Carolina 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. He is best known for his detailed and realistic watercolor paintings portraying wildlife in their natural environment.
