Welcome to the B.C. Specht  Art Gallery.

Browse and enjoy by clicking on the "thumbnail" image of the painting or drawing you would like to see full size. Then click on your browser's BACK  button to return to this gallery page to make another selection. You can return to the HOME PAGE by clicking that button. Items marked with a * before the title are available as open edition art prints. See bottom of this page for ordering info. Please note that all images on this page are copyrighted by the artist. No unauthorized reproductions are permitted.

*Blue-Fronted Amazon:  Acrylic painting on 140-lb. soft pressed watercolor paper. This is a handsome blue-fronted Amazon parrot with beautifully developed blue coloring in his facial area. His tail is fanned out in a display of excitement or curiosity as he observes the viewer with a wary eye. These "new world" parrots are native to South America and can grow to be 14 to 15 inches in length. They make fine companion birds and can be excellent talkers, although not all may become talkers. When young, these birds may not show any of the lovely blue facial coloring, but it develops as the bird matures.

*Blue Crowned Conures:  Acrylic painting on 140-lb. soft pressed watercolor paper. This is a bonded pair of Blue Crowned Conures like the one that starred in the Dreamworks movie, Paulie. They are natives of South America with an extensive range from the northern part of South America all the way down to Argentina. Blue Crowns are about 15 inches long and make excellent companion parrots. They can learn to talk and have very affectionate personalities. When young, they don't show much of the colorful blue head feathers, but as they mature, the bright blue feathers cover most of their faces and upper heads. Some even have a smattering of these blue feathers throughout the breast area. Their beaks are horn colored when young, but the lower mandible darkens as they age to become nearly black at maturity while the upper mandible remains light colored. [Art print available. Image size: 8" W x 10.25" H. Price: $10.00 plus shipping]

*Sunny:  This is a painting of my little companion parrot, Sunny. He is a 14-yr-old Sun Conure. Sunny was about two years old when I did this painting of him. It was done in acrylic paints on 140-lb. cold press watercolor paper. Sunny is being coy here and looking back over his right wing. This is his "who, me?" look when I catch him at some mischief. [Art print available. Image size: 8.25" W x 10.25" H. Price: $10.00 plus shipping]

*Beaker and Sunny -- Ahhh, That's the Spot! Acrylic on Fredrix Watercolor Canvas (July 2006). Dimensions: 12" W x 9" H. These are my little Peachfaced Lovebird, Beaker, and my Sun Conure, Sunny enjoying a quiet moment together with a little mutual grooming. They are standing on a plush, plum-colored throw on my sofa. This is one of Sunny's favorite spots. He loves to go walking across the throw because it is so soft under his feet. He rubs his beak back and forth on it while making cute little grunting noises that are sounds of pure pleasure. Beaker was puffed up like a little green tennis ball with her wings drooping and her eyes closed in pleasure as Sunny gently groomed those hard-to-reach spots on the back of her neck.  [Art print available. Image size: 10 " W x 8 " H. Price $10.00 plus shipping]

*Sun Bather:  Acrylics on 140-lb. 100% cotton watercolor paper. Dimensions: 11" by 11-¼". This is another painting of my Sun Conure, Sunny, taking a bath in his little blue bowl (as seen in the photos on my Photo page. As you can see, he really enjoys a good splash and his feathers take on a spiky look that is quite comical. Most parrots really enjoy a good bath and will twist and turn and spread their wings in a funny little dance as they try to get every part of their bodies good and wet! When they start doing their little "rain dance" like this, it's a sign that they are really enjoying themselves. [Art print available. Image size: 9" W x 8.25" H. Price: $10.00 plus shipping]

*Sunny and Lolita:  Acrylics on Fredrix Watercolor Canvas. Dimensions: 12" W by 14" L. This is an imaginary scene of my little Sun Conure, Sunny, with his lady love, a pretty Jenday Conure named Lolita. Sunny offers his lady a warm wing to snuggle under on a chilly day. Perhaps he is in the mood for a little romance as they cuddle together. That certainly is a mischievous gleam in his eye. But who could blame him with such a pretty companion? [Art print available. Image size: 8.25" W x 10.25" H. Price: $10.00 plus shipping]

Lolita (detail):  Here is a closer look at this pretty lady Jenday Conure. The Jenday Conure is very similar to the Sun Conure except that Jendays have all green wings where Sun Conures have yellow on their upper wings with green and dark blue on their primary and secondary flight feathers. These two species are so closely related that they can breed with one another producing offspring called Sunday Conures, a combination of the Sun and Jenday name.

Sunny the Romeo (detail): Here is a closer look at my little Sunny snuggling close to his sweetheart. Ah, love is in the air.

*Loving Couple: acrylic on 100% cotton, 140-pound watercolor paper. Here is a bonded pair of Sun Conures. The female on the left is in a typical begging pose with her wings fluttering against her body. She may be begging to be fed by her male companion on the right or simply initiating a bit of affection which he happily provides by gently embracing her beak with his own. Anyone who has a parrot companion is familiar with this type of begging behavior demonstrated by this colorful Conure hen. I call this making "little beggar wings"--something common to virtually all bird species. [Art print available. Image size: 7.5" W x 10.25" H. Price: $10.00 plus shipping]

*Pair of Hyacinth Macaws: mixed media gouache and acrylic paints on 100% cotton, 140-pound watercolor paper. The low angle of the morning sun turns the mist-laden air to gold as these sleepy macaws stir from their slumber. The Hyacinth is the largest of all parrots and native to southern Brazil. Mature males can easily reach a length of forty inches or more. These "gentle giants" are favorites of my husband so I made this painting for him to hang in his office at work. [Art print available. Image size: 8" W x 10.25" H. Price: $10.00 plus shipping]

Andalusian Stallion: Casein paint with Conté crayon on illustration board. Here is a spirited white Andalusian stallion done in two classic mediums. This painting is primarily done in casein paints with only minor touches of Conté crayon for accents. I used a limited palette of earth tones to (somewhat) simulate sepia ink. The Andalusian breed, one of the oldest of pure breeds, was known as the "war horse or Europe." They were highly prized for their courage in battle and great endurance and intelligence. They are a short-coupled breed with powerful, arching necks and thick, luxurious mane and tails. Their legs are, in my opinion, the most beautifully shaped of any horse breed. The Andalusian horse is superbly suited to the demands of dressage and the show ring. They are sheer poetry in motion.

*Something Is Out There:  Graphite pencil drawing on illustration board.  Here I show a bay Arab stallion and a light gray Arab mare in a state of apprehension because of a threatening scent on the wind. The swirling wind makes it impossible to determine the direction of the danger. The stallion looks about warily with his head lowered and neck arched. The pretty mare is clearly frightened. I did this sketch for a possible oil painting or perhaps one done in water media. [Art print available. Image size: 10.25" W x 7.5" H. Price: $10.00 plus shipping]

Arab Mare and Shy Foal: Graphite pencil drawing on acid-free paper. This lovely white Arabian mare could be one of the proud daughters of the famous Polish-bred Arabian stallion *Naborr. She has his classic looks and confirmation as well as his soft, soulful dark eyes and snowy white coat. This mare is wearing a fancy tasseled halter for show while her dark foal peeks shyly from behind his mother.

Sherif, Desert Monarch: Graphite pencil drawing on acid-free, 4-ply Bristol paper. This Arabian stallion may have sensed the approach of a rival stallion or some other threat to his herd. He is alert and watchful, shown in a side view that displays his classic "dishy" profile that is so typical of this ancient breed. An arid wind gently lifts his silky mane and tail, but nothing distracts him from guarding his herd of mares and their foals. This sketch was done for the painting below.

*Desert Heat―Sherif: 16 x 20 inch oil on canvas (2001). This is the oil painting of the Arabian stallion from the graphite drawing above. My apologies for the bit of shine on the varnished surface of this canvas. I wanted to convey a sense of heat from the desert climate where this breed originated, hence the warm tone overall. I used a bit of the bronze metallic paint in his highlight areas which does show up a bit in this image of the painting. Exhibition note: This painting was one of two entered in the Greensburg Art Club show at the Donohoe Center in Greensburg, PA April 1, 2003 through June 30, 2003. [Art print available. Image size: 10" W x 8" H. Price: $10.00 plus shipping]

*Looking Back―Bay Arabian: 14 x 18 inch oil on canvas (2003). Arabian horses are called, "drinkers of the wind" because their nostrils can open up so wide to "drink in" the air. Here is a handsome bay Arabian horse pausing to look back as his wide nostrils test the wind.  His expression is calm but alert, as his forward-pointing ears suggest. He swishes his silky tail casually as he surveys his pasture area. There is a softly blurred backdrop of lush foliage against a clear blue sky. Exhibition note: This painting was one of two entered in the Greensburg Art Club show at the Donohoe Center in Greensburg, PA April 1, 2003 through June 30, 2003. [Art print available. Image size: 8" W x 10.25" H. Price: $10.00 plus shipping]

*Chestnut Arabian Mare: Mixed media of acrylics and gouache on 100% cotton museum board. I added something special to the paints while doing this pretty mare. I added some copper-colored metallic paint to the highlight areas so the viewer of my painting will see soft, metallic shimmers in these highlights when viewed from different angles. I wanted to simulate the metallic sheen seen in some color coats of well-groomed horses. Unfortunately, that metallic shimmer doesn't show on the scanned image here. [Art print available. Image size: 6.25" W x 10.25" H. Price: $10.00 plus shipping]

*Bay Arabian Stallion:  Acrylics on 140-lb. cold pressed, 100% cotton watercolor paper. This is a head study of a dark bay Arabian stallion. He has the characteristic dished profile tapering into a delicate muzzle typical of this ancient breed. Arabians are also famed for their large, expressive eyes and those ears whose tips seem drawn together as though they had magnets pulling them closer. I also added some copper-colored metallic paint to the highlight areas on this handsome fellow's coat. (Original acrylic painting sold to a private collector.)  [Art print available. Image size: 8" W x 10.25" H. Price: $10.00 plus shipping]

*Tiger study: acrylics on 140-lb. cold pressed watercolor paper. The tiger is another of my favorite animals. There were once eight subspecies of tigers in the world, but no longer. Three of these subspecies--the Caspian tiger, the Javan tiger and the Balinese tiger--are believed to be extinct. There are five remaining subspecies:  the Bengal, Chinese, Corbett's, Siberian, and the Sumatran tigers. The numbers of some of these subspecies, the Chinese and Siberian particularly, have dwindled dangerously low. The Siberian tigers are the largest of all the wild cats. They can grow to lengths of twelve feet or more and can weigh over 600 pounds. The tigers of Siberia and northern China have developed long, thick coats to protect them from the extremes of winter cold in those regions. Smaller tigers in the sweltering regions of India and Asia have shorter coats and love to lounge in pools of water to help them cope with the oppressive heat. The tiger in my painting here is a large Bengal male with most typical coat colors-- predominantly orange with black stripes and some white along the face, chest and belly.  Also of interest are the much rarer white tigers, a color variation of Bengal tigers. The white tiger's stripes can vary from brown to black and it has the most startling ice-blue eyes. [Art print available. Image size: 7.5" W x 10.25" H. Price: $10.00 plus shipping]

*Comfy Time--Maine Coon Cat (Spring 2002): Oil on 11-inch by 14-inch canvas panel. You tell her to stay off the bed but this pretty Maine Coon cat likes to be in the same comfortable places that you do. She is resting on your best chenille spread, but you don't really mind. The Maine Coon cat has a luxurious long-haired coat and a full tail that reminds some of a raccoon's tail. This pretty lady has soft gray-green eyes and a delicate pink nose to set off her white muzzle (and those matching white "boots"). Although each cat is an individual, the Maine Coon breed has a pleasant, friendly disposition and makes an excellent family pet. (Original oil painting sold to a private collector.) [Art print available. Image size: 7.5" W x 10" H. Price: $10.00 plus shipping]

North Woods Sentinel- Gray Wolf: graphite pencil, Conté pastel pencil, colored pencil on 4-ply Bainbridge illustration board. Like many others, I've always been an admirer of the wolf. I did this study for a very special friend. This one's for you, Dave...

Note: my dear friend and computer guru, Dave McMurray passed away on March 6, 2001. God speed and keep you, Dave. I will never forget you.

Alan: Did I mention that I also do portraits? Here is a small sample oil painting of one of my favorite country singers. He is wearing a denim shirt and a bolo tie clasp that is a beaten gold nugget. And don't you just love those hats?

Alan J. in Denim and Leather: Here is a larger portrait I did in 1993. It is an oil painting on a 16-inch by 20-inch canvas panel. No, I'm not really an obsessive fan. I just liked his singing a lot at that time and I find portraits to be an interesting change from my usual "critter" pictures. The fabrics and textures in this picture were especially fun to do.

And, speaking of portraits…

Samantha and Kole (Summer 2003): 20- by 24-inch oil on canvas. This is an oil portrait of a beautiful young lady named Samantha and her cute little brother Kole.  Samantha is wearing one of her high school cheerleading outfits and it looks like little Kole has his eye on a pro football career. Maybe his big sister can cheer him on.

Fantasy Collection: The following are samples of another favorite art genre, fantasy art.

*Trenor and Lassair: Here are two of the characters from my sword-and-sorcery novel, Lord of the Horses, (still a work in progress). I did this graphite pencil sketch as a spoof of romance novel covers that always seem to depict the man and woman in a steamy embrace, about to abandon themselves to their passion. Once completed, however, I liked the sketch so much that I framed it and hung it over my computer desk for writing inspiration! Both Trenor and Lassair have mysterious pasts, but Lassair's is doubly so. There is a part of her past even she doesn't know. When Trenor tries to help her rediscover that part of her life, he inadvertently sets into motion catastrophic events that could spell death for himself and those he loves most. Adding to their problems are plenty of evil-doers plotting to keep the lovers apart. [Art print available. Image size: 8" W x 10" H. Price: $10.00 plus shipping]

Linnet: Here is another character from my novel, Lord of the Horses. Linnet is the best friend of Lassair (above). This is a small gray-tone ink and wash painting on 100% cotton rag watercolor paper (cold press). Linnet's mother was a gifted empath and seer. Linnet inherited some of her mother's special gifts and was sent off at a very young age to the Isle of the Goddess to be trained as one of the priestesses of the great Mother Goddess. It was Linnet's ambition to one day become First Daughter of the Goddess, the High Priestess of the spiritual Isle, but her gifts were not powerful enough and she was dismissed after her novice trials ended. With her somewhat limited natural abilities and basic schooling in the arts of magic from her years spent in training with the other novices, Linnet knows just enough magic to manage to get herself and her friend Lassair into frequent trouble.

"Answering the Wizard's Call" : Do you like the writings of J.R.R. Tolkien? I first read his fantasy masterpiece, The Lord of the Rings more than thirty years ago. As a lifelong lover of horses, I was especially interested in the superb horses he calls Mearas, the "Horse-princes" of Rohan. The most powerful of all these magnificent steeds was Shadowfax. Tireless and fearless, what better choice could there be for a wizard in need? Here is how I imagine one scene from this classic tale might look.

* Note: This drawing was done for educational and discussion purposes only. It is not for sale.

More to come soon...

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