Babette Kis

medium: painting

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Lead Plant and Pearl Crescent Butterflies 2007 Painting	Evening Primrose Moths and Dickcissel 2006 Painting	White-Lined Sphinx and Prairie Phlox 2008 Painting
Hummingbird Hawkmoth and Prairie Phlox 2008 Painting	Achemon Hawkmoth and Eastern Prairie White-Fringed Orchid #1 2007 Painting	Achemon Hawkmoth and Eastern Prairie White-Fringed Orchid #2 2008 Painting
Grasshopper Sparrow at Sunset #1 2008 Painting	Bold Jumping Spider and White Gentian 2007 Painting	Red Winged Blackbird and Spotted Tussock Moth 2008 Painting
Brule in Autumn 2008 Painting

Contact information
6048 N. 114th Street
Milwaukee, WI 53225
Phone Number: 414-353-4186
Email Address: babette.kis@gmail.com

Artist statement
I grew up in Racine, Wis., with a tall grass prairie in my "backyard." Each spring, I eagerly awaited the bubbly laughter of returning black-and-white bobolinks, and the delicate beauty of pink shooting stars. With my childhood friends, I chased myriad butterflies among the summer-blooming prairie flowers. In fall, I followed armies of woolly bear caterpillars as they marched over yellowing grasses, looking for winter sanctuaries.

Dad helped me learn the names of plants and animals in my early years. When I was six years old, I began writing field notes and making sketches of prairie plants and animals. University classes in ecology and taxonomy gave me greater insight into the complexities of this ecosystem. Each year, as I take a new journal to the ever-rarer prairie remnants, I wonder--will I see my older observations repeated? What new wonders will I see?

Each of my "naturalist style" paintings is distilled from observations, sketches and field notes of native plants and animals of the upper Midwest. Paintings are done in multiple layers, with glazing and scumbling. Some are started in the field, plein-air, and finished in my workroom. I strive to show seldom-seen aspects of life on the tall grass prairie, wetlands and woodlands in detailed, close-up painting and "eagle-eye" perspective. My medium is oil paint on linen canvas.

Biography
Education
Milwaukee Art Museum Master Oils Study Group artist, 2008.
UW-Milwaukee, M. Arch.
UW-Parkside, B.A.
Classes at UW-Milwaukee and UW-Madison in biological sciences, art.

Shows:
Leenhouts Gallery, Milwaukee, solo show, 2008.
Plymouth Art Gallery, Plymouth, Wis., 2008.
Charles Allis Art Museum, Milwaukee, 2007.

Previous exhibits/shows at Milwaukee Art Museum; UW-Milwaukee; Wustum Museum, Racine, Wis.; Heritage Gallery, Racine, Wis.; and Elm Grove Gallery, Elm Grove, Wis.

Collections: Children's Hospital, Wauwatosa, WI; several Wisconsin nature centers, and numerous private collections.