Animal Paintings – Tarjan Studio

Kitten’s Retreat

Oil painting of three bobcat kittens in a tree by Janet Tarjan Erl.

Kitten's Retreat

Kitten’s Retreat
Medium: Oil, Image Size: 34″h x 48″w, 2001.

My husband and I were hiking up Copper Mountain in Jarbidge Nevada when we saw these bobcat kittens. We only saw two kittens at the time, but when we got our photos processed, we found the third kitten hidden in the tree. When we first saw the kittens, we weren’t sure if they were bobcat or cougar kittens, so we looked about for their mom. After we were sure she wasn’t nearby, we quickly photographed the kittens and finished our hike. I took a lot of artistic licenses and painted the kittens in this very sculptural and interesting Western Juniper that I had seen in the eastern Sierras near Markleyville, California.

Original is sold.

Reproductions available on Etsy.

Note: Image Watermark of Copyright and/or Website are NOT on the Original.

Illuminated Wolf

Oil painting of a wolf in snow by Janet Tarjan Erl.

Illuminated Wolf

Medium: Oil, Image Size: 20 “h x 28″w, 2000.

I portrayed this wolf watching from the cover of a snow laden tree. I intentionally made the wolf appear mostly concealed to show the cautiousness and intelligence of these wild animals. Had this been a real situation, I likely would have never seen the wolf, even if it was really there, because predators, like wolves, can be so quiet. I was inspired to create this painting after back country skiing on Mt. Shasta in northern California. The sun was setting and cast long blue shadows against a pink and golden snow-covered landscape. The colors, shapes, and textures were so striking as they illuminated the landscape. It felt so magical to be there, that I imagined animals could be watching from everywhere in that forest.

Original is sold.

Reproductions available on Etsy.

Note: Image Watermark of Copyright and/or Website are NOT on the Original.

Silently Waiting

Watercolor painting of a fox in snow by Janet Tarjan Erl.

Silently Waiting

Medium: Watercolor, Image Size: 22″h x 32″w, 1995.

While out skiing in the Mt. Shasta Wilderness Area, I came across this intricate, lacy design of snow-covered branches and twigs. When I saw this scene, I imagined a small animal peering contentedly from behind the branches. Later, when decided to do a classic snowy scene, I thought of this scene. I added a red fox and depicted it patiently waiting under cover of the snow laden branches. The fox seemed the most appropriate animal for the setting. Many delicate watercolor washes were applied to build up the values and textures of the fur and the snow-covered branches. This painting is in the permanent collection of the Bennington Center for the Arts, Bennington, Vermont.

Original is sold.

Reproductions available on Etsy.

Note: Image Watermark of Copyright and/or Website are NOT on the Original.

Spirited Wolf

Watercolor painting of a wolf in snow by Janet Tarjan Erl.

Spirited Wolf

Medium: Watercolor, Image Size: 19″h x 30″w, 1994.

I painted this spirited timber wolf happily strolling through a snow-covered landscape. This setting was one of the many scenes I saw while skiing on the flanks of Mt. Shasta. It’s a nice setting, but it is especially enhanced by the presence of the wolf.

Original is sold.

Reproductions available on Etsy.

Note: Image Watermark of Copyright and/or Website are NOT on the Original.

Basking Cougar

Cougar basking in sun original painting by Janet Tarjan Erl

Basking Cougar

Medium: Watercolor; Image Size: 10″h X 17″w; 2014.

This cougar basks in front of colorful desert rocks with an eroded cave. This location was in Joshua Tree National Park, CA.

Painting Available

$975.00

This painting is FRAMED, with double matted, and under glass. Frame outside measurements is approximately 18″h x 23 3/8″w x 1″d. Top matt white, second matt Iris, standard glass.

If you are interested in purchasing this painting, please contact us, and we can arrange for purchase.

Gallery inquires welcome.

Please include title of artwork in contact.

Click Here to Contact Us.

Additional images of artwork, matting, or framing.

Note: Image Watermark of Copyright and/or Website are NOT on the Original.

Gentle Waters Soothe My Soul

Watercolor painting of wolf in landscape next to a creek by Janet Tarjan Erl.

Gentle Waters Soothe My Soul

Medium: Watercolor, Image Size: 16 3/4″h x 28 1/2″w, 1994.

I prefer to paint wolves that are peaceful or content since that is most likely how they are for the majority of their day. This artwork shows a wolf resting contently beside East Boulder Creek in the Trinity Alps Wilderness, south of Callahan, Siskiyou County, CA. This was one area my husband and I regularly hiked to it. I wanted to capture the contentment the area gave me, so I created that quality in this painting. In a sense, the wolf is reflecting my ease whenever I was at that place.

Original is sold.

Note: Image Watermark of Copyright and/or Website are NOT on the Original.

Retreat From the Heat

Watercolor painting of a bobcat by Janet Tarjan Erl.

Retreat From the Heat

Medium: Watercolor, Image Size: 17.5″h x 27″w, 1991.

I depicted this bobcat resting beneath an immense rock in Joshua Tree National Park. I chose to paint this bobcat in this setting because of the unique similarities of the cat and the scene. For instance, the triangular shape of the bobcat mimics the same shape in the rock opening behind the cat. Additionally, the colors and spots of the rocks were strikingly similar to the colors and spots of the bobcat. The combination the two made a great painting.

Original is sold.

Reproductions available on Etsy.

Note: Image Watermark of Copyright and/or Website are NOT on the Original.

Vigor and Grace

Watercolor painting of a cougar by Janet Tarjan Erl.

Vigor and Grace

Medium: Oil, Image Size: 16″h x 22″w, 2000.

This cougar cleans it paws while it rests in the cool shade of a rock overhang. I couldn’t resist painting a cougar in this rock landscape scene in Joshua Tree National Park. Joshua Tree has such interesting, sculpted rock formations that are perfect spots for wildlife to hang out and take refuge in. This was a great setting for a contented cougar cleaning itself.

Original is sold.

Reproductions available on Etsy.

Note: Image Watermark of Copyright and/or Website are NOT on the Original.

Harbor Hunks

Watercolor painting of sea lions on a submerged dock by Janet Tarjan Erl.

Harbor Hunks

Medium: Watercolor/gouache, Image Size: 16.75″w x 18.75″h, 2012.

I saw these massive, magnificent Sea Lions clustered along the docks at Newport, Oregon. They were so heavy and numerous they actually sank the docks a bit. It made for a unique painting with interesting shapes, textures, colors, and reflections. This watercolor was juried into the Coos Art Museum’s 19th Annual Maritime Exhibit, 2012; the Oregon Waterways Exhibit, 2012, Giustina Gallery, Corvallis, Oregon; and the Art of the Animal Kingdom, 2013, Bennington Center for the Arts, Bennington, VT.

Painting Available

$1,850.00

This painting is FRAMED, with double matted, and under glass. Frame outside measurements is approximately 28″h x 275 1/2″w x 1″d. Top matt white, second matt iris, glass is non-glare.

If you are interested in purchasing this painting, please contact us, and we can arrange for purchase.

Gallery inquires welcome.

Please include title of artwork in contact.

Click Here to Contact Us.

Additional images of artwork, matting, or framing.

Painting of five large seals sitting on a dock causing it to submerge in the water by Janet Tarjan Erl.

Note: Image Watermark of Copyright and/or Website are NOT on the Original.

A Gentle Moment

Wolf in snow watercolor painting by Janet Tarjan Erl

A Gentle Moment

Medium: Watercolor, Image Size: 14.5″h x 18″w, 1996.

I like to portray the gentle moments in the lives of wild animals. This wolf, which is examining its paw, is an example of that contented and peaceful quality I like to paint. This watercolor painting took many washes of watercolor to build up values from light to dark. I used larger brushes for the lighter under layer washes, and as I built up the details and the values, I used smaller and smaller brushes. The darker areas had the most washes and paint applied while the white and light areas had little to no washes applied. To create the illusion of fur I had to use tiny brushes size 000, size 00, and size 0.

This snow scene was from Black Mountain, Siskiyou County, California.

Original is sold.

Reproductions available on Etsy.

Note: Image Watermark of Copyright and/or Website are NOT on the Original.