Wolf Moon

Garment illustration by Janet Tarjan Erl

Wolf Moon

Medium: Watercolor, Image Size: 20”h X 20”w, 2002.

I wanted to capture the essence of dignified and noble wolves, so I selected poses that showed their magnificence but also showed their beauty. I added the full moon because the full moon is a time for the pack to howl and hunt together at night. The beaded satchel was added for an interesting diagonal element, but also symbolizes the connection to native cultures and their reverence for wolves.

The wolves were painted on paper with watercolors and then scanned into a digital file. I floated them in Photoshop into three separate wolf layers. I then painted the moon and the satchel in Photoshop, each as separate layers. Lastly, stacked all the layers to create the final image.

This wolf art was originally created as a T-shirt design for Trekker Designs, and it was originally titled Soul Mates.

Reproductions available on Etsy.

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

Harley Bear

Garment illustration by Janet Tarjan Erl

Harley Bear

Medium: Watercolor, Digital/Photoshop, Image Size: 18”h x 20″w, ©2003.

At the time this design was created, my husband and I owned Trekker Designs, an apparel decorating company, and one of the things we did was to screen print our designs onto apparel products and novelty gifts and sell them to our wholesale clients. One of our biggest clients was the Black Bear Diner Corporation. This design was one of the many black bear artworks we created which were printed on clothing, mugs, and cards that we sold to Black Bear Diner to sell in their diners and to be worn by employees. This design was very popular at the Black Bear Diner Corporation’s Bullhead City, Arizona diner. The adjacent city, Laughlin, Nevada, had an annual river run event for motorcycles, so this design was popular during that event. This design ended up being the most popular design we sold to the diners.

Harley loves the wind in his hair, the open road, and hangin’ with his buds. Check out Harley’s trick scoot. With a bear head headlight, bear claw rivets on the saddlebags, and other bear details, Harley’s got a truly unique scoot.

Painted in watercolor, scanned into the computer, floated, graphics, colors, effects, and text were done in Photoshop.

Reproduction Available on Etsy.

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

Trekker Bear

Garment illustration by Janet Tarjan Erl

Trekker Bear

Medium: Watercolor, Digital/Photoshop, Image Size: 22”h x 18″w, ©2005.

At the time this design was created, my husband and I owned Trekker Designs, an apparel decorating company, and one of the things we did was to screen print our designs onto apparel products and novelty gifts and sell them to our wholesale clients. One of our biggest clients was the Black Bear Diner Corporation. This design was one of the many black bear artworks we created which were printed on clothing, mugs, and cards that we sold to Black Bear Diner to sell in their diners and to be worn by employees. I thought it would make a cute, anthropomorphic bear design of my favorite recreation activity-hiking! Unfortunately, though I thought this would make a great shirt for the diners to sell, the corporation decided not to carry this design.

As all bears know, if you go not, you know not. This happens to be my personal quote, so I said it is an ancient bear proverb in the design. It’s insightful knowledge because you can’t experience the world unless you get out and see it.

Painted in watercolor, scanned into the computer, floated, graphics, colors, effects, and text were done in Photoshop.

Reproduction Available on Etsy.

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

Celebrate Life’s Pleasures

Garment illustration by Janet Tarjan Erl

Celebrate Life's Pleasures

Medium: Watercolor, Digital/Photoshop, Image Size: 15”h x 20″w, ©2002.

At the time this design was created, my husband and I owned Trekker Designs, an apparel decorating company, and one of the things we did was to screen print our designs onto apparel products and novelty gifts and sell them to our wholesale clients. One of our biggest clients was the Black Bear Diner Corporation. This design was one of the many black bear artworks we created which were printed on clothing, mugs, and cards that we sold to Black Bear Diner to sell in their diners and to be worn by employees. As the diners began to expand into California, I thought it would make a cute, anthropomorphic bear design of two bears picnicking in a classic California wine country scene with an old Airstream trailer and classic old car in the background.

Whatever your pleasures may be, do them as often as possible – preferably 32 weeks a year or more. As these wine loving connoisseur bears have discovered, it will be the best elixir you’ll ever find.

Painted in watercolor, scanned into the computer, floated, graphics, colors, effects, and text were done in Photoshop.

Reproduction Available on Etsy.

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

Alpenglow Wolf

Garment illustration by Janet Tarjan Erl

Alpenglow Wolf

Medium: Watercolor, Image Size: 20″h x15″w, ©1997.

While out back country skiing on Mt. Shasta in northern California, I skied past this spot and was so impressed with how beautiful Mt. Shasta was in rosy light of the setting sun, so I painted this scene to capture that amazing moment. I painted the wolf in the setting to symbolize how grand and noble the Mountain is.

Painted in watercolor. Scanned into the computer, floated, painting enhancements, graphics, colors, effects, and text were done in Photoshop.

Reproductions available on Etsy.

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

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.

Enchanted Winter Forest

Winter oil landscape painting by Janet Tarjan Erl.

Enchanted Winter Forest

Medium: Oil, Image Size: 32″h x 48″w, 2008 and Revised 2012.

This painting was inspired while Harry and I were back-country skiing on the flanks of Mt. Shasta. It had just snowed the night before, so all the trees were laden with snow which made them look like enchanted sculptures. The setting sun cast a rosy color upon the scene and gave it a warm glow which contrasted beautifully with the blue and purple hues of the shaded areas that were reflecting blue colors from the high mountain sky. Mt. Shasta was so enchanting that day, so I created this oil painting to capture that beauty we had witnessed.

Painted in 2008 and revised 2012.

Original is sold.

Reproductions available on Etsy.

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

Bandon Beach Overlook

Oil landscape painting by Janet Tarjan Erl.

Bandon Beach Overlook

Medium: Oil, Image Size: 24″h x 18″w, 2018.

I wanted to paint my favorite scene in Bandon, so I chose this scenic overlook at the popular Face Rock State Park in Bandon, Oregon. I saw this scene just as the sun was getting ready to set. Bandon Beach, in my opinion, is the most awe-inspiring portion of the west coast because it has beautiful, sculpted sea stacks and monolithic rocks that jut out from the big sandy beaches which make such interesting and striking compositions.

Painting Available

$2,150.00

This oil painting is on stretched CANVAS ONLY. Fits a frame size 24″ x 18″.

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.

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Reproduction 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.