#awareness

top of page

Search

Endangered Species Series: Re-Introduction + African Wild Dogs

Sep 9, 2020
2 min

Endangered Species Series: Re-Introduction + African Wild Dogs

I started this Endangered Species Series in the fall of 2014 as one small part of my conservation initiative. Here is what I said about it in that very first installment... “I feel a responsibility to try and protect the world that inspires me every single day. This series will be a journey of learning for myself and all those who choose to educate themselves further about the many species in our world that are losing their homes, their livelihood, and being killed for vario

8 views0 comments

Bumblebee | Endangered Species Series

Sep 9, 2020
2 min

Bumblebee | Endangered Species Series

Bumblebee There are approximately 275 different species of bumblebees around the world, with a majority of them living in the northern hemisphere. Only a few of these species are commonly seen in most places. Some species are found in only very specific locations. Bumblebees have been in decline because of changes in agricultural practices that are eliminating flowering plants from the landscapes, leaving the bees with little to feed on. Bumblebees live in a variety of ha

6 views0 comments

Hiking + Backpacking 101 | Etiquette, Safety, and Leave No Trace

Sep 9, 2020
3 min

Hiking + Backpacking 101 | Etiquette, Safety, and Leave No Trace

(The Windows - Arches National Park) It's no secret that I LOVE hiking and have found a new love in backpacking. Everyone should have intimate experiences out in nature. There is so much out there to learn about yourself and this beautiful world, but I know how apprehensive some people are to step into the unknown, especially alone. I truly believe there is great value in challenging yourself in uncomfortable situations and hiking alone can be really beneficial, but being

4 views0 comments

We're A Small Piece of This Big World | Hiking in Our National Parks | Personal Post

Sep 9, 2020
5 min

We're A Small Piece of This Big World | Hiking in Our National Parks | Personal Post

(Canyonlands - Island in the Sky District - Grand View Point Overlook) This past weekend I arrived back in WI after 10 days on the road to Utah with plenty of stops along the way. We explored 5 different national parks in Colorado and Utah and spent a few days near Boulder, CO. I'm thrilled to share a little glimpse into this amazing trip through photos today and will probably ramble a little too much about certain hikes and experiences along the way (bear with me!!). I als

4 views0 comments

Paperless + Unplugged | A Struggle to Champion Sustainability and Limit Personal Screen Time

Sep 9, 2020
3 min

Paperless + Unplugged | A Struggle to Champion Sustainability and Limit Personal Screen Time

Recently, we've been having issues with the wi-fi in my house...I was working on a scratchboard commission though, so it wasn't a big deal really. I had the reference photo saved on my flash drive, so I didn't need the internet to be productive - it was a quiet work time, however, because I couldn't get a connection for my Pandora station (minor disappointment)! After a few hours, though, I thought 'ok, that's enough" and went to reset the router in time to get my afternoon

6 views0 comments

Cheetah | Endangered Species Series

Sep 9, 2020
2 min

Cheetah | Endangered Species Series

Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) Quick Facts: Status: Vulnerable Population: 7,500 adults in the wild Height: 30 in at shoulder Weight: 110 to 140 lbs Habitat: Open plains Range: Southern and eastern Africa Diet: Carnivorous The cheetah is made to run and is the fastest land animal in the world - it has long muscular legs, small round head on a long neck, a flexible spin and deep chest, a long tail to help with balance, special pads on their feet and non-retractable claws (the only

2 views0 comments

Conservation, Awareness, Advocacy | The Third Pillar | Business Post

Sep 9, 2020
3 min

Conservation, Awareness, Advocacy | The Third Pillar | Business Post

Hey there! This quote speaks to me in big ways!! As an avid hiker, someone who yearns for the solace of nature, a wildlife artist, sustainability junkie, supporter of renewable energies, and animal lover, it is important to me that I respect the natural order of Earth and try to limit the impact of my human footprint. Something so important in my personal life has, naturally, spilled over into my business life. So the reason we're here today - the third pillar of Melissa H

1 view0 comments

Mountain Gorilla | Endangered Species Series

Sep 9, 2020
2 min

Mountain Gorilla | Endangered Species Series

Mountain Gorilla | Gorilla beringei beringei Quick Facts: Status: Critically Endangered Height: 4 to 5 ½ ft Weight: Up to 440lbs Habitat: forests, mountain Diet: vegetarian Population: 880 Mountain gorillas live in forests high in the mountains, half of the population live in the forests of the Virunga Mountains, of Central Africa at elevations of 8,000 to 13,000 feet where temperatures drop to dangerous levels, often below freezing. They have thicker fur than other gorillas

4 views0 comments

Gray Langur | Endangered Species Series

Sep 9, 2020
2 min

Gray Langur | Endangered Species Series

Welcome to the first Endangered Species Series post of the year!!! If this is the first time you're visiting my blog for this series, I'm SO excited you're here to learn more about our world's endangered species. In this series, I offer information about the species, an images of the species through my artwork, and information about what continues to threaten the species' existence. Each post is set up in the same way as this one and at the bottom of this post, you will f

11 views0 comments

Year in Review: 2016 | Fine Art Scratchboard Wildlife | Endangered Species

Sep 9, 2020
2 min

Year in Review: 2016 | Fine Art Scratchboard Wildlife | Endangered Species

This year has seen many different wildlife scratchboard pieces come across my desk - large green iguanas, stately lions, adorable little otters, and birds of all kinds, to name just a few. I've been working really hard in the off season (post September festivals) to create more and more wildlife art as I look into 2017 with a full plate of art festivals and fairs. The year 2016 brought great new adventures in my career as an artist (representation at a New York City gallery

0 views0 comments

Asian Elephant | Endangered Species Series

Sep 9, 2020
2 min

Asian Elephant | Endangered Species Series

Asian Elephant | Elephas maximus indicus Quick Facts: Status: Endangered Height: 6.5 – 11.5ft Weight: around 11,000lbs Length: around 21ft Population: 40,000-50,000 As Asia's largest land mammal, the Asian elephant is smaller than its African counterpart, with smaller ears that they use to keep themselves cool by constantly keeping them in motion and a single 'finger' on the upper lip of their trunk (African elephants have a second finger). Their skin ranges from dark grey t

7 views0 comments

A Small Adventure in a Big World | Personal Post | Porcupine Mountains

Sep 9, 2020
3 min

A Small Adventure in a Big World | Personal Post | Porcupine Mountains

Big Carp River Trail - Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park, Photo taken on iPhone I am newly back from quite the adventure up in the Porcupine Mountains in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and wanted to share some of the amazing things I saw and some of my reflections along the way. The title of today's blog has a sort of double meaning because, yes, I was on a short hiking and backpacking adventure out in the wilderness that can make one feel so very small (in what I b

2 views0 comments

Bald Eagle | Endangered Species Series | A Success Story

Sep 9, 2020
2 min

Bald Eagle | Endangered Species Series | A Success Story

Bald Eagle | Haliaeetus leucocephalus Quick Facts: Length: around 3 feet Wingspan: females – 7 feet, males – 6 feet Weight: 10-14 lbs Lifespan: 20-30 years Population: 5,000 mating pairs The Bald Eagle is the only eagle unique to North America and is the United States’ national symbol. The Bald Eagle is an Endangered Species Act success story. This series' purpose is to highlight species at risk of extinction and threatened by any number of things from habitat loss due to h

1 view0 comments

Lynx | Endangered Species Series

Sep 9, 2020
2 min

Lynx | Endangered Species Series

Lynx (Lynx canadensis) Quick Facts: Status: Threatened Height: 2 feet Weight: 10 - 25 lbs Length: 2.5 - 3 feet Lifespan: up to 15 years Habitat: Boreal forests The Canadian lynx has similar features to the bobcat, but there are distinguishing characteristics. Bobcats have shorter ear tufts, the tip of the tail is black on the top side and white underneath, and the bobcats legs are shorter with smaller feet. The lynx lives mostly in the northern states along the Canadian bor

1 view0 comments

Jaguar | Endangered Species Series

Sep 9, 2020
2 min

Jaguar | Endangered Species Series

Jaguar | 9x12 scratchboard Black Panther | 11x14 scratchboard Jaguar | Panthera onca Quick Facts: Status: Endangered Height: 25-30in at shoulder Length: 43-75in Weight: 79-211lbs Lifespan: 12 years Population: 15,000 in the wild Jaguars are the largest cat in the Americas. They range from Argentina in South America up to the Grand Canyon in the United States, though they have been almost completely eliminated from the northern most part of their range and are endangered in t

5 views0 comments

Mandrill | Endangered Species Series

Sep 9, 2020
1 min

Mandrill | Endangered Species Series

Mandrill (Mandrill sphinx) Quick Facts: Status: Threatened Height: 3 ft Weight: 77 lbs Lifespan: 20 years Habitat: Rain forests Diet: Omnivore - fruits, roots, and animals The mandrill is the largest and most colorful of all monkeys. Their easily identifiable red and blue faces, as well as colorful back sides become brighter when they get excited. They have long canine teeth that can be used for self-defense but baring them is typically a friendly gesture within their group

8 views0 comments

African Elephant | Endangered Species Series

Sep 9, 2020
2 min

African Elephant | Endangered Species Series

African Elephant (Loxodonta africana) Quick Facts: Status: Threatened Population: 470,000 Height: 8.2 - 13 ft Weight: 5,000 - 14,000 lbs Average Lifespan: up to 70 years Habitat: Tropical and Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forests, Flooded Grasslands and Savannahs, Miombo woodlands, Acacia savannahs Range: Central and Southern Africa Diet: Herbivores - roots, grasses, fruit, and bark; they consume up to 300 lbs in one day African Elephants are the largest land animals and are sl

7 views0 comments

ENDANGERED SPECIES DAY | Make Your Mark

Sep 9, 2020
2 min

ENDANGERED SPECIES DAY | Make Your Mark

Happy Endangered Species Day!! Today we celebrate wildlife + wild places and focus on how and why so many species are struggling to survive. Not only should we take this opportunity to educate ourselves on how our actions impact the survival of our nation's wildlife, but also how we can make a difference everyday! There are so many species, known and unknown, around the world that are close to extinction, but we can help turn their fate around. Melissa Helene Fine Arts and

0 views0 comments

Bonobo | Endangered Species Series

Sep 9, 2020
2 min

Bonobo | Endangered Species Series

Bonobo (Pan paniscus) Quick Facts: Status: ENDANGERED Population: 10,000 - 50,000 individuals Height: 28 - 35 in Weight: 68 - 86 lbs Habitat: Rainfoorest Range: Congo Basin Diet: Frugivores - half their diet is fruit, supplemented with insects, worms, eggs, and small animals The bonobo, also known as the pygmy chimpanzee, is smaller, leaner, and darker than the chimpanzee with pink lips and a smaller head and ears, though they both share 98% of their DNA with humans - making

9 views0 comments

Amur Leopard | Endangered Species Series

Sep 9, 2020
2 min

Amur Leopard | Endangered Species Series

Amur Leopard (Panthera pardus orientalis) Quick Facts: Status: CRITICALLY ENDANGERED Population: around 60 individuals Body Length: up to 5 feet Weight: 70 - 105lbs Lifespan: 10 - 15 years Habitat: temperate, broadleaf, and mixed forests Diet: roe and sika deer, hares, badgers, mice, and other small animals The amur leopard, the world's rarest cat, is found in the northern-most part of the species' range, Far East Russia. This rare species has adapted to life in the temperat

2 views0 comments

bottom of page