Wildlife Paintings: Original Animal Art by Michael Meissner

There is a moment in the wild that happens before the animal knows you are there. The elk lowers its head to a stream. The hawk turns into the wind. The wolf pauses at the tree line, scenting the air. These are the moments Michael Meissner paints. Not the encyclopedia illustration, but the living animal in its own world.

His wildlife paintings are original oils built with layered pigment and bold palette knife work. The goal is not perfect detail but presence. A sense that the creature might step from the canvas, shake its coat, and move on. This is wildlife art made by someone who has spent time in the same landscapes as his subjects.

Original Wildlife Oil Paintings: North American Animals and Birds

The wildlife collection focuses on the animals of the American West, the coastal Southeast, and the mountains of the Carolinas. Subjects include elk, deer, wolves, bison, wild horses, bobcats, and the birds of prey that circle above open land. Each painting is an original oil on canvas, created from field observation, reference gathered in the wild, and a memory of how the animal occupied space.

Michael paints wildlife with the same impressionist hand he brings to Western landscapes and Salt Marsh scenes. The texture of fur, feather, and grass is rendered in heavy impasto. Light moves across the surface the way it moves across a living animal. These are paintings meant to be lived with, studied up close, and felt from across a room.

The Technique: Texture, Light, and Animal Presence

Years of painting horses, cattle, and working animals with a palette knife gave Michael an approach to wildlife that favors mass and movement over tight linear detail. He builds form in broad strokes, then refines the eye, the ear, and the shoulder with a brush. The result is a surface that feels alive.

This technique is especially effective for wildlife subjects. The heavy texture of oil paint catches light like actual fur. The directional energy of the knife work follows the muscle and bone beneath the coat. The animal is not pasted onto a background. It is constructed from the same paint, the same light, the same atmosphere as the landscape around it.

Wildlife Paintings for Collectors and Design

Original wildlife art holds a unique place in homes, lodges, offices, and public spaces. A well-chosen wildlife painting anchors a room with color and story. It introduces a sense of scale and wildness without overwhelming the design.

Michael’s wildlife paintings are available in a range of sizes to suit different spaces:

Intimate studies: 12×16 and 16×20 inches – ideal for hallways, offices, and gallery walls
Primary works: 24×30 and 30×40 inches – the core collection for living rooms and entryways
Statement pieces: 36×48 and larger – designed for great rooms, lodges, and commercial spaces

Each piece is painted on gallery-wrapped canvas, varnished for archival protection, and shipped fully insured. Framing recommendations are available on request.

Commissions: Custom Wildlife Portraits

Michael Meissner accepts a limited number of wildlife commissions each year. Whether you are seeking a portrait of a specific animal encountered on a hunt, a painting to honor a wildlife conservation effort, or a large-scale piece for a ranch or corporate space, custom wildlife paintings can be created to your specifications.

Commissioned wildlife paintings begin with a conversation about the species, the mood, the setting, and the size. Michael works from his own field studies and high-quality reference to create an original work that honors the animal and fits your space.

Wildlife Art as Part of a Larger Practice

The wildlife collection sits naturally alongside Michael’s Western art, Dinosaur Series, Salt Marsh Collection, and pet portraits. The through-line is animal presence. Whether the subject is a living bison, a prehistoric predator, or a beloved family dog, the approach is the same: observe honestly, paint with texture, and respect the subject.

About the Artist

Michael Meissner is an oil painter based in Spearfish, South Dakota and Canton, North Carolina. His work spans Western landscapes, wildlife paintings, coastal scenes, and the celebrated Dinosaur Series. With encouragement from mentors including Society of Illustrators Hall of Fame artist Joe Bowler, he developed a classical approach to oil painting that emphasizes life, light, and honest observation.

His wildlife paintings have been exhibited at festivals and galleries across the American West and Southeast.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are these wildlife paintings or prints?

Every piece in the wildlife collection is an original oil painting. No prints or reproductions are offered unless specifically noted as a limited edition giclee.

Do you paint animals outside North America?

Michael’s primary focus is North American wildlife, but commissions for African, European, or exotic species are accepted on a case-by-case basis.

How long does a wildlife commission take?

Commission timelines vary by size and complexity. Most wildlife paintings are completed within 4-8 weeks. A deposit secures your place in the queue.

Do you paint birds and waterfowl?

Yes. Birds of prey, wading birds, and waterfowl are regular subjects in the wildlife collection. Their feathers and posture respond beautifully to palette knife texture.

Can you include a landscape background with the animal?

Absolutely. Most wildlife paintings include a habitat background that grounds the animal in a specific place. The setting is often as important as the subject.

Do you ship large wildlife paintings?

Yes. All original works are professionally packaged and shipped fully insured within the United States. International shipping is available on request.