Label & Artist Series
Green-Winged Teals by D.J. Cleland-Hurla
As an avid naturalist and environmentalist, D.J. Cleland-Hura found long ago that wildlife had captured his heart. For a time, it became the focus of his professional work and drew him into the rich and fascinating art of painting. Nature, in its infinite variety, remains his primary subject matter, although he also studies and paints the figure.
Cleland-Hura grew up on Grosse Isl., a small Michigan island in the mouth of the Detroit River. In 1993, Cleland-Hura received his Bachelor's degree in Fine Arts from the University of Michigan School of Art. Shortly after graduation, he and his future wife, Rikki, moved across the country to settle in the Seattle area.
To begin his professional career, Cleland-Hura painted commissions and entered numerous wildlife stamp competitions. In 1996, he won the South Carolina Duck Stamp contest, the youngest winner in its history. Since then he has captured several more.
Cleland-Hura paints originals for galleries, shows, and commissions. For the 2001 Paraduxx label he created an acrylic painting of several species of Teal nesting in a foggy marsh from which a pair of Green-Winged Teal was selected.
