Painting the Faces of Wildlife

Kalon began drawing as soon as he could hold a pencil. Since as early as he can remember, he's had a passion for making art and he's been pursuing that passion professionally for more than 30 years. Kalon works primarily with oils, graphite and charcoal. With his wildlife art he strives to capture the allure of animals in their natural environments and to inspire conservation of native species. With his figure drawings Kalon depicts the artistry of the human form and the depth of emotion that can be hidden therein. Kalon's career as a professional artist began in 1988 when he graduated with honors from Albion College in Michigan, where he earned the Outstanding Artist Award. Kalon returned to Albion as an Artist in Residence from 1992-1994. Since then, Kalon has enjoyed several opportunities to serve as an instructor for artists throughout the country. Kalon has exhibited his work in a variety of national and international shows through the years and received numerous awards and honors. In addition to his art, Kalon strives to support wildlife conservation by applying his skill as a self-taught naturalist and photographer to the study of rare carnivores. He uses remotely triggered trail cameras to capture detailed images of wildlife. Through partnerships with state and federal agencies, as well as not-for-profit organizations, the data gathered is used to inform species-specific conservation in Montana.