Safari Magazine

n Theodore Roosevelt’s honor, let us all cry “bully!” to proclaim our common love for the Igreat outdoors. But leave it to a transplanted Englishman—or in this case, painter-writer John Seerey-Lester—to artfully remind American hunters and anglers that their greatest conservation hero still commands towering importance. When Seerey-Lester started creating historic “predicament scenes” featuring TR a decade ago, he knew he had tapped into something that might possibly arouse the passions of sporting art collectors. Just how much, Seerey-Lester couldn’t possibly have imagined. “John’s paintings are timeless and appear Roosevelt harvested the giant tusker while Today, his nostalgic portrayals of Roosevelt on the life-like, as if Roosevelt were still here with on an expedition funded by both the American hunt in the late 19th and early 20th centuries have put us,” Yturria says. “They take us back to an era Museum of Natural History in New York City Seerey-Lester’s originals at peak demand. They’ve also when wildlife in Africa was plentiful and not and the Smithsonian in Washington D.C. where fueled a series of sold-out coffee table art books filled threatened by poachers and ivory merchants— collected wildlife specimens were mounted and with tales by Seerey-Lester of Roosevelt stalking big an era when going ‘on safari’ really meant put on public display. game in North America, Africa, South America and Asia. something. Long live those days.” “TR not only recognized the connection Perhaps the most satisfying endorsement between hunters and the vital conservation BY TODD WILKINSON Seerey-Lester’s received to date, besides that role they play as passionate defenders of the from collectors, is the ongoing vote of confi - game animals they love,” Seerey-Lester said. Painting dence that’s come from direct descendants of “He led by example in supporting movements the Roosevelt clan. They’ve been so to rescue species such as bison and elk that impressed with the painter’s devotion to were pushed to the very brink of annihilation Roosevelt historical accuracy and research, including in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.” getting every detail from safari attire to gun No one with as much authority and hands In dramatic fashion, models down pat, that Roosevelt family on experience as an outdoorsman had existed John Seerey-Lester brings haunting members offered Seerey-Lester unfettered before. And he foresaw the necessity of access to TR’s personal diaries. Observations protecting habitat, a cornerstone of the North adventures of TR to life penned in Roosevelt’s own hand, which he American model of wildlife conservation. made at hunting camps in Kenya and the Counted for decades among the top wildlife A third book titled “The Legendary Hunts of American West, have provided the artist with artists in the world, his Roosevelt period pieces Theodore Roosevelt” is scheduled to be out in colorful gripping fodder for new portrayals are the finest of his career for they bring together S 5 time for the coming holiday season and much to of the 16th president never before told his greatest strengths as a painter: expert drafts - A 1 F 0 A 2 the delight of TR fans the volume will feature through art. manship especially in drawing human and animal R R I E several new paintings and stories scheduled for Tweed Roosevelt, TR’s great grandson, figures, an incredible knack for creating moods, S B E O unveiling at the 2016 SCI Convention in Las Vegas. believes the works hold historic value in and an ability to seize our attention by capturing P T T C E “I have a hunch that given the subject matter bringing more details of the president’s hunt - turning-point moments of action. M O / B R and places I’m exploring in these new works that ing expeditions and campfire talks that Born in England in 1945, the year that E E R B the curiosity of those at Safari Club will be shaped today’s conservation movement into brought an end to World War II, Seerey-Lester / O M E C T whetted,” Seerey-Lester says. “Retracing TR’s fresh light. worked as a commercial illustrator and distin - T P O E footsteps has been an adventure and thrill.” “TR was ahead of his time and his wisdom guished himself by painting flashback street B S E I Well-known Texas businessman, rancher, hunter is directly applicable to our time,” Seerey- scenes of the Victorian and Edwardian eras. R R 2 A 0 F and art collector Fausto Yturria was riveted by Lester said recently while working behind the His realistic interpretations of 19th century 1 A 5 S Seerey-Lester’s paintings of TR the first time he easel on an oil painting showing Roosevelt people, buildings and life laid the groundwork saw them. He owns several works and eagerly taking aim at a charging bull elephant in for his success today. 5 1 0 5 looks forward to those debuting at SCI. Kenya in 1909. continued on page 52 During his twenties, Seerey-Lester traveled to “There are some damned fine sporting art When I spoke with Seerey-Lester, he was Africa and fell into the company of conserva - painters, but there are not a lot in the world surrounded in his Florida studio by eight tionist/paleoanthropologist Richard Leakey (a who can set up their kit and put together very different works in various stages of completion, year Seerey-Lester’s senior) who later became competent pieces in front of a live audience in from Roosevelt pursuing elephants, rhino, Cape head of wildlife management for Kenya and a short period time,” says Ross Parker, Call of buffalo and lions. launched a game warden program to combat Africa owner. Over the years, Seerey-Lester has helped elephant and rhino poachers. Seerey-Lester “But John can do it, and that skill is an raise millions of dollars for conservation supported conservation campaigns through the extension of his early training as a street efforts and he’s proud, he says, to be affiliated sale of artwork. painter in London. The studies, by themselves, with SCI. He was one of the first artists to Back in England, the artist began painting are sweet and collectible. But when you see paint the giant panda in China, his work has wildlife almost exclusively and showed particu - his large finished easel paintings that he’s spent hung in the White House, he’s received the lar promise with predator and prey predicament months completing, you know why they are NRA’s Ring of Freedom Award and not long scenes. Eventually, he moved to the US and museum worthy. And that only enhances that ago he was bestowed with a knighthood by expanded his portfolio with North American reputation that SCI has for offering its his Imperial and Royal Highness Archduke big game, gaining a huge following among members access to high-caliber art.” Andreas of Austria. people who bought wildlife art prints through Not all of Seerey-Lester’s newer works are One of his proudest achievements, he said, publisher Mill Pond Press based on 400 differ - based in Africa. He and his wife not long ago was becoming a naturalized American citizen. ent paintings. Today, he shares a life with his took a rugged trip up Two Ocean Pass in “I grew up holding Winston Churchill in wife, Suzie, also a talented wildlife artist. Wyoming’s Absaroka Mountains to witness the highest admiration but the more I’ve discov - “John isn’t as much of an art celebrity as same vistas Roosevelt did when he hunted elk ered about Roosevelt, I place him in the same S 5 say, Robert Bateman, but he really knows there. “It is amazing to, with one hand, be league,” Seerey-Lester says. “I believe we need A 1 F 0 A 2 what to do with a paintbrush and he’s very reading TR’s journals and then to be looking to revive the spirit of TR to confront enor - R R I E versatile,” observes art historian David J. out on the places he visited and to realize they mous challenges facing the animals we love in S B E O Wagner. “Those two characteristics, along are wilder now than when he encountered Africa. I hope my work, in its own modest P T T C E with the strength and boldness of his work, them thanks largely to the vision he charted as way, can help make that happen.” M O / B R have established him among the top wildlife a conservationist,” Seerey-Lester says. Art of the Hunt columnist Todd Wilkinson is a E E R B artists of the day. And it seems that he just The discerning eyes of SCI Members, in lifelong sportsman and longtime outdoor writer. He / O M E C T keeps getting better and better.” turn, have also helped Seerey-Lester broaden is author of the new book “Grizzlies of Pilgrim T P O E Last year, a group of collectors flew into Vegas for his own understanding of guns. “Hunters look Creek, An Intimate Portrait of 399, the Most B S E I the SCI Show just to watch Seerey-Lester at the weapons in his paintings and they Famous Bear of Greater Yellowstone.” . R R 2 A 0 F complete a number of quick-draw studies live at appreciate the rifles precisely reflect the 1 A 5 S the Call of Africa Native Visions Gallery booth, the period and so in that sense his works are sole representative of Seerey-Lester’s originals.

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