Jennifer Dalton Wildlife and Nature Art

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Ottawa, ON
Jennifer Dalton Wildlife and Nature Art

Dr. Jennifer E. Songbirds and aquatic birds are among my very favourites.

Dalton | PhD (Law)
Multi-award-winning Professional Fine Artist 🎨
Former Professor 🏛️
Specializing in highly detailed realistic art, handmade with heart, passion & precision ✨
Animal & human justice ⚖️
Welcome to my Studio 🖼️
©2026 ABOUT THE ARTIST

I am a Canadian wildlife and nature artist who illuminates the light and souls of birds, animals, flowers and nature in my artwork. My primary medium is soft pastel, although I occasionally work in other mediums, including acrylic, watercolour, coloured pencil, charcoal and graphite.

My artistic style focuses on realism and hyperrealism. I enjoy working with vibrant, unusual and dazzling colours to give joy to viewers and uplift the Spirit.

As I have continued to build my portfolio, birds have become a key area of my focus. I also have a particular affinity for bringing flowers to life in my artwork.

ACADEMIC BACKGROUND & ARTISTIC DEVELOPMENT

I started exploring art after a mid-life career change. My first career was as a professor and researcher, after obtaining four degrees, including a PhD in Law. I subsequently transitioned into practice as a professional spiritual advisor and intuitive. In the last few years, I began delving into visual arts, first learning graphite sketching through the Robert Bateman Nature Sketch program, and then subsequently expanding to various other mediums, including coloured pencil, watercolour, charcoal and acrylic. I pursued much of this learning independently.

As I continued experimenting with different mediums, I discovered soft pastel, which quickly became my favourite medium because of the vibrant colours, pure pigments and tactile feel. Soft pastel is also the perfect match for my realistic style and depictions of sleek feathers, vibrant flowers and soft fur. Through continuous practice, dedicated study and refining my techniques, I have developed a distinct approach to capturing wildlife and nature with fine precision and realistic detail.

RECOGNITION & COMMUNITY

I am active in many online art communities and endeavours. In addition to continually expanding my portfolio, I have won awards and recognition for excellence in multiple juried international art competitions and exhibitions.

MISSION & VISION

My background as a spiritual advisor and intuitive deeply informs my artistic practice. It allows me to connect with the unique energy of each being and translate that essence into my artwork.

My overall objective is to showcase the inherent beauty and light in living creatures, to reveal their souls and sentient natures. I have held these beliefs and values about the natural world since I was a child, and I consider it an honour to help promote these ideals with my artwork.

I hope to help develop greater public awareness of the value of animals and all living things as beings who are worthy of deep respect, care and protection. Through my artwork, I envision a world that upholds and honours conservation, peace and respect for all sentient beings.

09/23/2026

🐭 "PURPLE JOY": Dignity in Bloom & Spiritual Protection 🕯️

Wildlife Wednesday: A wildlife artist's inspiration ✨

Every piece begins with a desire to capture the souls of the subjects I portray 🎨

My goal is to honour their dignity, while conveying a sense of peace and safe sanctuary 🕊️

Finding or creating the right reference usually takes a great deal of time to bring my vision to life 🕯️

In this piece, I combined multiple references to create a happy, safe place for this little Mouse 🐭

Anemones are also called Windflowers, because their scientific name stems from "anemos" , which is ancient Greek for "wind" 💨

Purple Anemones symbolize heightened spiritual awareness, dignity and protection 🌸

They come to life in early spring, representing excitement and hope 🌱

These flowers share a deep connection with dignity, respect and honour 👑

They embody resilience through darkness, specifically representing inner strength, persistence and surviving emotional hardships 🌿

Their rich purple colour offers spiritual protection against negative energy and intentions 🕯️

This royal purple reflects awakening and intuition, connecting to the upper chakras of the third eye and crown 💜

They symbolize heightened spiritual awareness, peace and inner wisdom ✨

I love how these principles are so beautifully reflected in the bright light and deep shadows of these Anemones 🙏

🖼️ Title: "Purple Joy" — 2nd in my Mouse series

🖌️ Medium: Soft pastel pencils (Derwent Art, STABILO CarbOthello, Caran d'Ache, Faber-Castell) and pastel sticks (Sennelier and Schmincke)

🎨 Surface: Clairefontaine PastelMat

📏 Size: 12 x 9.5 in (30.5 x 24 cm)

📷 Reference Photos: My own composition based on several royalty-free reference photos

✅ What detail of this piece resonates most with you today?

This is a closer view highlighting the deep purples, light and shadows of the anemones on the left side of this piece. See the full artwork in the comments below 😊

09/22/2026

🍂 AUTUMN EQUINOX: Featuring "Curious Explorer" 🦝

Today brings a perfect celestial balance and the official start of the Fall season 🍁

The Autumnal Equinox arrives precisely at 8:05 p.m. EDT this evening 🕰️

At that exact moment the sun crosses the equator heading south ☀️

While a solstice means the sun "stands still" at its extremes, the word equinox literally translates to "equal night" as we reach a perfect balance of light and dark 🌗

This transition actually begins weeks before the Equinox, as decreasing sunlight signals trees to finish their growing cycle 🌳

Certain species like Maples react to the changing light early, while Oaks hold onto their greens much longer 🍁

External factors like Summer droughts and early cold temperatures also trigger this transformation ahead of schedule 🍃

We see the most spectacular colour displays during years that combine bright sunny days with crisp cool Autumn nights 🍂

I captured the early signs of this seasonal shift in "Curious Explorer" by including two fallen leaves floating in the water 🍁

This subtle detail connects the Raccoon directly to the changing environment around him 🦝

The true challenge of this piece involved balancing the soft textures of the Raccoon's fur with the sharp precision of the water reflection ✨

ARTWORK DETAILS

🖼️ Title: "Curious Explorer"

📜 Surface: Dark grey PastelMat by Clairefontaine

📏 Size: 12 x 9" (30 x 23 cm)

🎨 Medium: Sennelier and Schmincke soft pastel sticks and Caran d'Ache, STABILO Carbothello and Faber-Castell Pitt pastel pencils

📷 Reference: Pixabay

🌿 What specific signs of the changing seasons do you look for first?

09/21/2026

🌸 A SYMBOL OF PEACE: "Magnolias in Spring" 🌸

Today marks the International Day of Peace 🕊️

The United Nations established this global observation in 1981 to strengthen the ideals of peace across all nations 🌎

The UN voted in 2001 to make the date a permanent 24-hour period of zero conflict and global nonviolence ☮️

True peace means far more than just the absence of war 🌱

It relies heavily on safety, dignity, equality and cooperation ✨

This includes equal access and basic needs ⚖️

The theme for this year is "Invest in Peace - For Everyone, Everywhere, Every Day" 🌻

This empowers ordinary people as everyday architects of peace 💡

We can choose to build stability through local grassroots actions within our own communities 🏡

Magnolias have long symbolized inner peace, tranquility, resilience and dignity 🌸

Although the white variety acts as the primary symbol of peace, the pink flowers in this watercolour embody the exact same spiritual balance and calm 🎨

I chose to share this piece today to reflect these important global ideals 🌟

Where do you find your own sense of peace? 🌿

🎨 Title: "Magnolias in Spring"

📏 Dimensions: 12 x 9.5 in (30.5 x 24 cm)

🖌️ Medium: Winsor & Newton watercolour

📜 Surface: Arches Papers hot-pressed watercolour paper

📷 Reference photo courtesy of Pixabay

09/20/2026

✨ CRIMSON ENERGY AND DRAMATIC CONTRAST: "Red Velvet" 🌹

Contrast transforms how we experience colour 🌓

The colour red naturally elevates our energy and draws the human eye instantly 🔥

This powerful hue connects directly to the root chakra in spiritual traditions 🕯️

Red symbolizes grounding, courage, vitality and security ⚓

I painted black gouache for the background, a method I've used for years ➡️ Did you know that fine artists have used this technique for centuries?

The black contrast amplifies the natural energy of red. The dark background enhances vibrancy, lifting the rose off the surface 🌹

I used soft pastel pencils and sticks for the rose, finishing with some iridescent Sennelier soft pastel sticks and PanPastel Pearlescent Medium layered on top of the background ✨

Do you prefer artwork that feels calming or art that feels energizing? 😊

🖼️ Title: "Red Velvet"

📏 Size: 9.5 x 7 inches (24 x 18 cm)

🎨 Medium: Faber-Castell, Caran d'Ache and STABILO CarbOthello soft pastel pencils, Sennelier soft pastel sticks, PanPastel Artist Pastels and Winsor & Newton gouache

📜 Surface: White PastelMat by Clairefontaine

📷 Reference Photo: Pixabay

09/19/2026

🌲 ANCIENT FORESTS & WOODLANDS: "Bluebells for Mom" 🪻

National Forest Week takes place across Canada this week 🍁

Dozens of different Bluebell varieties grow around the world 🌍

The flowers in this artwork are Wild Bluebells, which are actually a vivid purple 🪻

Bluebells act as a natural indicator species for ancient forests 🌳

This scientific classification means their presence proves a woodland has thrived continuously for centuries 🌲

They thrive in deep woodland shade and blanket the forest floor before the dense tree canopy grows its Spring leaves 🍃

This vibrant display of purple transforms the woods every year wherever they grow 🌿

This is a dramatic annual change that historically inspired centuries of European woodland folklore ✨

Historical accounts stated that wearing a garland of Wild Bluebells would compel a person to speak only the truth ⚖️

Because these resilient plants return to the same spots every year, historical beliefs associated them with constancy and everlasting love 💜

I picked Wild Bluebells for my Mom as a child 🥰

I appreciate this piece even more now after exploring its ecological role and woodland history 🌷

✅ Have you ever spotted Wild Bluebells while walking through the woods?

ARTWORK DETAILS

🖼️ Title: "Bluebells for Mom"

📏 Size: 6.5 x 9 inches (17 x 23 cm)

📜 Surface: Light green PastelMat by Clairefontaine

🎨 Medium: Soft pastel — PanPastel Artist Pastels and pastel pencils from Derwent Art, Koh-i-noor Gioconda, STABILO CarbOthello, Faber-Castell and Caran d'Ache

📷 Reference Photo: iStock / Ludmila Kapustkina (licensed)

09/18/2026

🦊 CELEBRATING FOXES: "A Winter's Walk" 🐾❄️

Yesterday was National Fox Day! 🦊

I only found out about it today. So, I am celebrating these beautiful creatures by sharing my coloured pencil piece, "A Winter's Walk" ❄️

Foxes have such an undeniable elegance to them ✨

It is always a joy to capture their vibrant energy against a snowy landscape in my art 🌨️

I have always loved the focused and deliberate way they move 🦊

This piece captures that steady resilience during the cold winter months 🌲

Have you ever been lucky enough to spot a Fox in the wild? Let me know in the comments below! 😊

ARTWORK DETAILS

🎨 Title: "A Winter's Walk"

🖌️ Medium: Faber-Castell Polychromos coloured pencils

📜 Surface: Arches hot-pressed watercolour paper

📏 Size: 9 x 11.5 in (23 x 29 cm)

📷 Reference photo: Alain Audet via Pixabay

09/17/2026

ENCHANTING HARMONY: "Lavender Elegance" 🌹🌿

Delicate lavender and deep purple embody elegance and grace ✨

Purple serves as a powerful gateway to higher wisdom and Divine connection through the crown chakra 🪷

It acts as the seat of the soul and engages the pineal gland to support true inner knowingness 🌌

Visually, this hue balances the stability of blue with the bold energy of red to inspire boundless creativity 🎨

Ancient rulers valued the rare dye for its prestige, but the colour actually embodies the strength of personal power 🕊️

The lighter tones of lavender naturally soften this intense majesty into pure elegance 🗝️

🖼️ Title: "Lavender Elegance" (Second piece in my ongoing series of individual Roses)

📏 Size: 7 x 9.5 inches (18 x 24 cm)

📜 Surface: White PastelMat by Clairefontaine

🖌️ Medium: Derwent, Caran d'Ache, CarbOthello and Faber-Castell pastel pencils with Sennelier iridescent soft pastels

✨ I created the background using a black gouache underlayer topped with PanPastel pearlescent medium

📷 Reference Photo: Beautiful reference image by Xuan Bui

Do you prefer the bold deep purple or the delicate lavender in this piece?

09/16/2026

🌟 Welcome to Wildlife Wednesday! 🌟

🪶 AN INTUITIVE SANCTUARY: "Winter Robin" ❄️

Beyond the soft pastel layers lies a deeper connection to the soul of this little bird 🐦

I intuitively connect with the energy of each subject to bring their soul to life 🕯️

For this piece, I focused on the fiery warmth of his chest standing out, bold and unapologetic 🔥

European Robins are iconic for their confident and inquisitive natures 🌿

I captured that direct eye contact to mirror the courage it takes to sing through the winter and carry your voice even during harsh times ❄️

This little Robin embodies a profound and unyielding fearlessness ⚡

Spiritually, these Robins represent the kind of resilience that defines this space here on my page—a sanctuary where we trust our own senses and allow our authentic inner voices to guide us 🌠

Which detail in this piece—the fiery warmth of his chest or his direct gaze—speaks to you most today? ✨

Artwork Details:

🖼️ Title: "Winter Robin"

📏 Size: 12 x 9.5 in (30.5 x 24 cm)

🎨 Medium: Pastel pencils by Faber-Castell, Caran d'Ache and STABILO CarbOthello; PanPastel Artist Pastels; and Sennelier soft pastel sticks

📜 Surface: Light grey PastelMat by Clairefontaine

Address

Online Fine Art Studio
Ottawa, ON

Website

https://www.jenniferdaltonfineart.com/, https://www.facebook.com/JenniferDaltonWildlifeandNatureArt/subscribe, https://j

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