Carl Brenders is one of the most acclaimed and best known contemporary nature artists. Born near Antwerp, Belgium, he studied at the Fine Arts Academy in Antwerp and later at Berchem. He produced wildlife illustrations for a series of books entitled "The Secret Life of Animals". Honored as the 24th Master Artist at the prestigious 2002 "Birds in Art" Exhibition at Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum in Wausau, Wisconsin, Brenders' work is regularly exhibited at the Museum. The Society of Animal Artists awarded him their highest honor, the Award of Excellence, seven times. His art is the subject of the critically acclaimed book, "Wildlife: The Nature Paintings of Carl Brenders", published by Harry N. Abrams in association with Mill Pond Press. A major retrospective exhibition of 30 of his works, entitled "Artistry in Nature: The Wildlife Paintings of Carl Brenders," opened at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History in Pittsburgh, PA, before traveling to Cleveland, OH; Louisville, KY and Shreveport, LA. Brenders' insistence on anatomical perfection in his paintings stems from his philosophy that nature, itself, is perfection: "That is why I paint the way I do with so much detail and so much realism - I want to capture that perfection," he says.
David J. Wagner, Ph.D. is a leading American wildlife art scholar, museum professional and educator with over 20 years of experience in exhibit development and museum planning, management, fund-raising, research, lecturing, and publishing. A driving force behind many collaborations and partnerships, he was director of the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum, Wausau, Wisconsin, during its first decade and also executive director of the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center. He wrote his doctoral dissertation on wildlife art history, and has served as a museum-studies adjunct faculty member at the Graduate School of New York University, Colorado College, and University of Wisconsin Extension. He recently completed the manuscript for a book about the history of American wildlife art for Cornell University Press. Today he works independently as Tour Director for the Society of Animal Artists, a world-wide organization headquartered in New York City.
Carel Pieter Brest van Kempen has spent brief periods living in many places, but has never felt compelled to move his stereo out of Salt Lake County, Utah, where he was born and raised. A self-taught artist, he has painted full-time since 1989. He is a member of the Society of Animal Artists, and is a five-time recipient of their highest honor, the Award of Excellence. His work has been exhibited worldwide in such venues as The Smithsonian, The American Museum of Natural History, The British Museum and The National Museum of Taiwan. He is kind to small children and often gives spare change to panhandlers. Carel has illustrated a number of books, but this is his first effort at authorship. He lives with his conscience in Salt Lake City.