Wildlife paintings

Suzie Harrison

He’s traveled down the Amazon marveling at the fresh-water pink

dolphin swimming next him, he’s visited primitive tribes in New

Guinea and he’s had a whale swim along side him in the ocean, eye to

eye with his heart thumping.

This is just a peek into the world of wildlife artist Chris Hoy.

Saturday Hoy will surround himself with about 12 exotic animals,

from a white lion to a wallaby, to use them as models for his work.

He will capture the wild animals on canvas from noon until 2 p.m.

“Most artists paint to get a reaction from their paintings. I am

so thrilled with my painting that I bring so much joy to people with

my work, whether it’s a wildlife painting or a pet portrait,” Hoy

said.

Even though Hoy had been painting most of his life he didn’t find

his true focus until a trip he took to Canada in 1978. Driving up from Southern California he saw his first bald eagle, which was on

the endangered list at the time and almost extinct.

“I was so excited to see our national bird before me in Canada

that I decided from then on out I’d be painting animals,” he said.

“There is just so much wildlife to view it’s just incredible.

Watching the sea otters in the morning playing in the surf and 300

elk cross a river, I knew.”

The following year Hoy got accepted into the Festival, which was

integral to the path he has taken with his art.

“I made my first trip to Africa. I had made up my mind to feel and

get the inspiration for the paintings I wanted to do. Since then I

have been fortunate enough to travel there several times.”

However, seven years ago Hoy got an in accident that should have

not only ended his painting career but also his life. When he was

adjusting the lighting in his art studio when he lost his balance and

fell crashing through a glass table with glass three-quarters of an

inch thick. The shards nearly severed his hand from his wrist.

With the help of a neighbor Hoy got to South Coast Medical Center,

having lost three pints of blood.

Hoy had to endure eight hours of surgery through the night,

repairing two major arteries that were severed in the accident, 13

tendons and three major nerves. His painting hand was almost rendered

useless.

“I have been able to train it and I’ve never painted better. It

keeps getting stronger and stronger,” Hoy said.

Though he says his hand doesn’t do much more than paint.

“I trained it to be able to put a paint brush in it,” Hoy said.

That desire to paint has guided him around the world. He has

traveled the seven continents and says his favorite place will always

be Africa with its sunsets, people and the horizon that goes forever.

“To watch the wild animals roam freely in the wild has to be the

most incredible thing to view,” Hoy said.

“A handful of people in their lifetime get a gift and I feel

really fortunate to express myself with my art and enjoy my gift. To

make a living at what you love so much . . . and seeing how much

happiness you bring to people is the best,” Hoy said.

Hoy hasn’t exhibited in the festival in six years and looks

forward to the event on Saturday as one of the highlights this year,

enjoying the public’s reaction to him painting the animals and

experiencing them up close.

The Festival of the Arts is at 650 Laguna Canyon Road. Laguna

residents are free with proper identification. Information: (949)

494-1145.

* SUZIE HARRISON is a reporter for the Laguna Beach Coastline

Pilot. She may be reached at 494-4321.