Atop the Lookout Tree

Dave Sellers spent his first summer after high school painting watercolors of North American waterfowl. This enabled him to fund his education in art and history at Humboldt State University in northern California. He sold his work over the summer between school years and caught the attention of various conservation groups, including the California Waterfowl Association and Ducks Unlimited. These two organizations helped to publicize Dave’s work and he soon became well known throughout the state among those interested in preserving wetland habitat. After a few years as a wildlife painter, Dave was on his way to national notice. He was honored as California Ducks Unlimited Artist of the Year, California Waterfowl Association Artist of the Year, Best of Show at the National Wildlife Art Show and several best of show honors at premier wildlife art shows across the country. His work as a wildlife painter has been featured in national publications including U.S. Art and Wildlife Art News. In 1995, while traveling in Alaska and Canada, Dave began painting on location outdoors. This was a new challenge and began a transitional period for this young painter. Following the trip, he put together his collection of field studies and presented them at an exhibit in Seattle, Washington, where all the work sold. Since this initial success, Dave has been painting landscapes almost exclusively. His style is reminiscent of the early California masters, yet shows freshness and individuality.