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

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

(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

(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

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

This year will be the first time I am offering reproduction prints of my scratchboard work at art festivals! Once I decided to go full-time, I knew this project was one I wanted to tackle right away and have prints available at my first shows of the year. I'm excited to offer this option so more people can take my work home, as they are a more economical option to my large scratchboard pieces. While I was planning to get this project started, I knew I wanted to be as respon

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Red Panda (Ailurus fulgens) Quick Facts: Size - Head and body, 20 to 26 in (50 to 65 cm); Tail, 12 to 20 in (30 to 50 cm) Weight - 12 to 20 lbs (5.4 to 9 kg) Lifespan - 8 years Diet - herbivore; bamboo, fruits, acorns, roots, eggs Habitat - high-altitude forests and mountains; Nepal, Myanmar, and central China Population - less than 10,000 individuals STATUS: Endangered The red panda has been classified as a relative to the giant panda, as well as the raccoon. They are curre

Grey Wolf (Canus Lupus) - ENDANGERED Once almost completely disappeared from the lower 48 states, the grey wolf is making a comeback in the Great Lakes, northern Rockies, and the Southwestern United States. There are an estimated 7,000 - 11,200 in Alaska, 3,700 in the Great Lakes region, and 1,675 in the Southwest. The ancestor of our domestic dog, the grey wolf ranges in color from grizzled grey or black to white. Wolves play a key role in sustaining healthy ecosystems. T

The African Lion is a majestic, powerful, and beautiful creature that is symbolic in many ways for a lot of people. Lions have been a fascination of mine for a long time and have become one of my favorite subjects to draw. They are amazing creatures and really need our support and help to flourish. Please continue reading to learn more about their habits, what is threatening them, and WHAT YOU CAN DO to make a difference! African Lion (Panthera leo) The African Lion is lis