Larry Eifert, a well-known artist of national parks, refuges, and preserves, has created over four thousand art pieces in his lifetime. He states he had been exposed to nature and a pencil early in his childhood and by 12 had won a New York national art contest.
Eifert still gets a real rush when creating nature paintings. 2016 was his 50th anniversary of being an artist and making a living from it.
Eifert grew up going to the Great Smoky Mountains with his parents often. This forest had always been a great fascination to him and is still struck by the beauty of flame azaleas. In his painting, we see various forest animals, birds, squirrels, and even a bobcat lurking through the leaves.