“Last Flight Departing 17:42 – American Woodcock” Graphite pencil on Fabriano 1264 sketch paper
Andy McRae’s passion for the outdoors began like many: during his early childhood, camping with his parents, the Boy Scouts, high school trips and exploring on his own. Even then, he brought along paper and pencils, drawing during those early years, honing his skill to get where he is today.
An artist at heart, McRae’s been drawing and painting since the late1960s. Being self-taught has allowed him to develop his passion for drawing wildlife and nature scenes at his own pace using graphite pencil, watercolors and pen and ink. He recently began exploring oils, and is excited to produce some new works in this medium in the future.
Sixty years of exploring and a life spent in the outdoors has enabled him to share moments and ideas that are common to everyone, and his choice of medium is dictated by what he wants to express in his art. Each medium offers its own unique charm and challenges. With pencils, he works to achieve intricate details and subtle shading, capturing the essence of a subject through observation and detailing. Pencil renderings are his passion.
“I always feel a great drive to build on the skills I’ve developed,” said McRae. “I aim to provide depth and texture, enabling the paper to capture the play of light and shadow with exceptional realism. This medium opens a world of creative expression, where every piece tells a story.”
Watercolors, another favorite medium of McRae, allow for fluidity and transparency for the creation of ethereal landscapes and the nuances of color, where they blend and flow in unexpected ways.
McRae’s other interests include fly-fishing and tying fishing flies, upland bird hunting, photography, woodworking, wood carving, boat building (with several canoes made), canoeing and camping, cross-country skiing, hiking, gardening, writing, poetry and travel.
His background’s in forest management/recreation with a degree in horticulture from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He has a long history of working in the outdoors, including at a nature reserve in Northern Wisconsin, as a park ranger with the National Park Service, working for a private timber company, employment in the horticultural field in commercial nurseries, owning a greenhouse operation, and more.
As a life member in Trout Unlimited, he’s active in his local Trout Unlimited chapter and is a member of RGS & AWS.
Please contact Andy McRae via email for further information, purchasing of art or commissioning work at McRaeFineArt@gmail.com.
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