This weekend, I am honored to share a gift of a new original painting with the Carpenter St. Croix Valley Nature Center for their annual fundraising Gala. The work features a red-tailed hawk — a striking and resilient raptor who served as an ambassador during one of the Center’s recent release events. I was profoundly moved by birds such as this one and the story surrounding their journey to recovery, which highlights both the fragility of wildlife and the extraordinary care provided through rehabilitation and education. Creating its portrait felt like a natural way to honor that spirit.

The Carpenter Nature Center, together with their dedicated partners at the Minnesota Raptor Center, has long been a place where lives are changed — not only the lives of the birds they rescue and release, but also the lives of people who come to learn, witness, and connect through these experiences. Their devotion to conservation, education, and rehabilitation is inspiring. I am humbled to support their mission through my art.

As a wildlife artist, I’ve always sought to capture more than the surface of an animal. Each brushstroke is a meditation on the quiet dignity and resilience of the natural world — a way of inviting others to pause, to look more closely, and to feel a connection to the wild lives around us. In this red-tailed hawk, I wanted to reflect not only its strength and beauty, but also the hope its story represents: that with care, collaboration, and dedication, we can help these birds return to the skies where they belong.

It is a privilege to contribute this painting to the Carpenter Nature Center’s Gala, knowing that the proceeds will help sustain their vital work. My hope is that the piece carries forward some of the inspiration these raptors bring — reminding all who see it of the powerful bond between people and wildlife, and of the responsibility we share in protecting it.

— Rebecca Latham