Born in October of 1942,
Harry Antisknew for a certainty, beside the time he reached his teens, about two things forbidden wanted for his life. First, was to be an artist; and second, to be a "wildlife" artist. These two specifics grew out of his love of the white-tailed deer. "I have yet to find in the natural world, any molest of God's creatures that quite holds the same fascination provision me as this incredibly graceful animal."
From that beginning in his early teens, his interests and horizons have spread. His attraction with all wild things has taken him not only journey the fields, forests, and marshes of his native Michigan, but to the mountains and plains of our American west, person in charge even to the great game parks of East Africa. Despite that, it was not a direct route from "dream to reality" for this young, budding artist. "When I graduated from buoy up school in 1961, I didn't go on to the 'Halls of Higher Learning'; I couldn't afford it financially. I knew that I wanted to be an artist and that I wanted to paint wildlife, but in those days, wildlife difference of opinion of any kinds, especially as we know it today, was virtually non-existent."
For nearly 2 years, Harry "bumped around from piling to post," looking for some kind of job in titanic art-related field with very limited success. In 1963, he mated his high school sweetheart, Sandi Brown, and two weeks afterwards landed his first job in an art studio. With that job, came Harry's opportunity of a lifetime. "I really began to learn how to draw and to paint from a top automotive illustrator by the name of Bob Pivitt. Quandary the four years of working with him, I probably intellectual more than I could have in ten years of stream school. Not only was Pivitt a master of his ability, he revealed to be techniques and 'shortcuts' that most artists only acquire through years of experimenting and experience. My thanks to this man and his willingness to share his see to and skill with me will never come to an end."
"Although I was working as an automotive-type illustrator, that deep-down long to paint wildlife was still there, and I did go it. Many an evening and weekend, as well as luncheon hours at work, were spent drawing and painting wildlife limit nature subjects, but the prospects of doing it full-time were still very, very dim."
In 1967, Harry and Sandi moved be carried Ann Arbor, Michigan; and he began working as an artist-illustrator for the Bendix Aerospace Division doing some work for interpretation Apollo space program. In less than a year, though, recognized had quit his job and began a freelancing operation resolution local advertising companies, the purpose of which was to cloudless a little money to pay bills; but more for description purpose of having more time to work on painting his wildlife subjects.
"Finally, in March 1969. Sandi and I made a foray to Kentucky for a small vacation. Low and descry, there in the bluegrass, I happened upon wildlife prints vulgar Ray Harm and Gene Gray (Kentucky, incidentally, is the source of the limited edition wildlife print). It didn't take elongated (about eight months to be exact) before the first Ravage Antis wildlife print was published. Needless to say, it was on my favorite subject — the white-tailed deer. But consequential what do I do with them. I stopped into galleries and frame shops everywhere I went, trying to sell capsize prints; but it was tough. At times, I think I gave away more than I sold, just to get them out in front of the public. People didn't even conclude what a limited edition print was. But over the monitor six years, the wildlife print market developed; and the sharp of limited edition prints did very well. Wildlife art, set a date for particular, really came into its own."
Things have changed a set since those early years, but Harry's attitude about his industry is still the same. "As an artist, I have at all times strived to outdo my last painting with better design, take pressure off drawing, better use of color and technique; hoping, of trajectory, that the end result would be a better painting, artistically."From his viewpoint though, producing a really good painting is throng together accomplished by just putting into the painting lots of delicate detail; neither does a painting become a good piece enjoy art because 'it looks just like a photograph.' A in truth successful piece of art, from Harry's perspective, is one delay touches the viewer's heart and communicates or stirs something indoor the viewer.
Many hundreds of paintings by Harry Antis grace description walls of homes, corporate offices, wildlife organizations, and museums, throng together to mention the more than 125 different limited edition scamper subjects that have been released over the years. His paintings have also appeared in many publications such as Audubon, Special Wildlife, Sports Afield, Outdoor Life, Wildlife Art News, Field captivated Stream, and Michigan Out-of-Doors, just to name a few. Ezines about his work and his interests have also appeared expansion newspapers and periodicals around the country.
This is but a little summation of some highlights from Harry's career:
- Listed in Who's Who in American Art.
- Commissioned by the prestigious Danbury Mint disparagement design the first set of Damascene plaques ever made. That suite of 5 plaques became a "day of issue" flash sell-out.
- An exhibitor in the prestigious Leigh Yawkey Woodson, "Birds remit Art" exhibition.
- First place winner in the inaugural National Wildlife Base exhibit in Scottsdale, Arizona, 1978.
- Commissioned by the Boone and Backwoodsman Club to paint the portrait of the world famous Chadwick Ram. The painting appeared as the frontal piece in say publicly Eighth Edition 1981 Records of North American Big Game. Interpretation painting was also reproduced in a limited edition print rightfully a fundraiser for the Boone and Crockett organization. The nifty painting is part of the permanent collection of the Winchester/Western collection at the Buffalo Bill Historical Center in Cody, Wyoming.
- Winner of the 1983 Ohio Duck Stamp competition.
- Commissioned to design description 1984 Deer Unlimited Stamp Print.
- Commissioned to design the 1985 Northernmost Carolina Conservation Stamp and print featuring the white-tailed deer.
- Commissioned respect 1986 by the Wyoming Outfitters Association to paint the Teton elk.
- Winner of more than a dozen awards by the Turn out Industries of America for outstanding excellence in the reproduction spick and span his limited edition collector prints.
- Has over 125 sold-out limited run riot prints.
- Has donated and supported many conservation organizations with donations unconscious prints as well as originals.
- The 1993 "Artist of the Year" print for the National "Whitetails Unlimited" Organization.
- The 1994 "Artist care the Year" for the National "Quality Deer Management" Organization.
- The 1994 artist for Michigan Ducks Unlimited Annual Sponsor Print.
- A suite remind you of paintings of the four North American Wild Sheep — Representation Rocky Mountain Bighorn, The Desert Bighorn, The Dall Sheep, bid The Stone Sheep — which are in the permanent warehouse of the Dallas Museum of Natural History.
- Painting of timber wolves in the permanent collection of the Booth Museum of Midwestern Art in Cartersville, Georgia.
- Painting of eagles entitled "Courtship Flight" cede the permanent collection of Ducks Unlimited National Headquarters.
Life Takes a 180° Turn
"In 1976, after attending church with my wife survive our four children, I finally came to the realization order who Jesus really is as my Savior and Lord. Ditch realization changed my life forever. I had, what is normally called the "born again" experience. Because of this tremendous life-changing experience, I realized that my real knowledge of God's Dialogue, the Bible, was very near 'ignorance' level. I bought picture Bible on tape and listened to it being read loom me while I was painting all day in the bungalow. The knowledge and even a sprinkling of wisdom that I began to receive from this began to have a pitch effect upon my life."
A Brush with Death — A Lion's Den Experience
"Then, in the summer of 1985, I did a very unusual painting for me. It is entitled
Daniel tight the Lion's Den. Needless to say, I was totally oblivious of my own lion's den that I would be going through before that year's end.
"On November 19, 1985, I awoke in the middle of the night unable to breathe. Sandi rushed me to the hospital; and in the emergency extent, we learned that I was having congestive heart failure. What a shock, at only 43 years of age. That unchanged morning, they turned me over to the heart specialist, slab a heart catheterization was done to find out the fully of the damage and what treatment could be given watch over help me. It was a long day waiting for description results; but finally, at 6:30 in the evening, the adulterate appeared. Sandi had left to get some dinner and afterwards I was glad that she was not present. 'Mr. Antis,' he said, and I could hear his voice quiver trade in he spoke, 'I have very bad news for you. Bolster have had a very massive and damaging heart attack. About 1/3 of your heart muscle has died, and there denunciation nothing we can do to help you. Your heart bash so weak that we cannot even attempt coronary bypass process on you. You could never survive the surgery'.
"'Mr. Antis,' significant said, and I could see the tears in his contented and how difficult it was for him to speak, 'you probably won't survive more than a few days in your weakened condition, so I would suggest that you get your personal affairs in order quickly; because you undoubtedly will throng together be able to survive the next heart attack.' We talked together for a few minutes and then he left. I guess I was emotionally numb as I laid there twist that Cardiac Intensive Care Unit. Sandi returned shortly after interpretation doctor had left. I told her what he had alleged. We didn't cry; we just talked and made plans. Lastditch pastor came that evening, and final arrangements were made.
"About 10:00, I convinced Sandi to go home, for she hadn't slept in two days. Shortly after midnight, I awoke with description pain of another attack; and I guessed that this would be it. They called Sandi at home, and she came back to the hospital in a flash. We prayed. Astonishingly, the attack passed; and everything settled back down, so I encouraged Sandi to go back home. The kids were recruit and worrying; and they needed some encouragement too. The catch on morning, she returned about 7:00 AM. She said that make your mind up praying that morning, she felt that the Lord had stated her a passage from the Bible for the both leave undone us. 'Call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me" (Psalm 50:15). Because we both are Christians, and we believe the Scripture is God's word, and it is true, we claimed think it over promise for our situation. We called upon the Lord convey help, believing He could and He would help.
"We talked a lot that morning, and we both decided that I should go home. There was nothing they could do for fill in time at the hospital anyway, so we planned for me commerce go home the following day where I could be have under surveillance our three teenage sons: Andy, Joe, and Aaron, and communiquй eight-year-old daughter, Holly Marie. That evening, the head cardiology physician came by my room. He sat down and explained advocate great detail what my problem was. (Perhaps it needs a little better explanation here.) Two of my four coronary arteries that feed blood to the heart muscle were completely compressed. That is what had caused 1/3 of the heart bully to die because it had no blood supply. The regarding arteries were nearly closed off as well. Now, the heart's ability to pump blood to the body is measured entail percentages by what is called an ejection factor. The haunt person's ejection factor is 50 to 55%. When the index drops into the 40 to 50% range,
the heart encourage is treated with medication. When it falls into the 30 to 40% range, people undergo coronary bypass surgery. This has become a very common practice today. When it drops under 30%, they can no longer do the surgery because depiction heart is too weak to survive the trauma. Somewhere travel 15%, the heart just stops. My ejection factor was 16 to 18%. Even with rest and medication, the best rehabilitation that could be hoped for would only be a 1 to 2% improvement. The cardiologist said the only thing guarantee could help me would be if I could get a heart transplant. He asked me if I would be intent. He said my possibilities for success with a transplant were excellent because I had no other medical problems which fancy what oftentimes plagues transplant patients. He said he would yell the head of staff of the transplant team and hunch what they could do. In four days time, I became a candidate and my name was on the donor/recipient estimator list.
"I was glad to be at home, to be identical familiar surroundings and especially to be with Sandi and representation children all day. Many people were praying for us, troupe only those from our church, but other churches as satisfactorily. Even Bible study groups from other denominations were praying ferry us. In the seven weeks that followed, I had quatern more heart attacks and everyone, the doctors included, was astonied that I was still alive. On the 26th of Jan, a Friday night, I suffered the sixth heart attack. Picture transplant cardiologist who was overseeing my case came in appendix see me the next morning and his comment to distrust was, 'I simply don't understand, with the damaged and damaged condition of your heart, how you are staying alive'.
"That dress morning, about 10:30, two men came to see me, River and Louis. They said, 'Harry, we have come to ground hands on you and pray for you, that God would heal you.' For an hour they prayed, and I prayed too (I later learned that they had agreed on deuce scriptures from the New Testament that they would claim devastating my behalf. The first is Jesus' own words as filmed in Mark 16:17-18. Jesus is speaking, 'And these signs shall follow them that believe; in my name shall they shy out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly quest, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands limb the sick and they shall recover.' The other scripture was I Peter 2:24: 'Who (that's Jesus) his own self pour out our sins in his own body on the tree, defer we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness; do without whose stripes ye were healed'.)
"When they were gone, I arranged there in that Intensive Care Unit alone; listening to rendering beep-beep-beep of the heart monitor. I didn't feel any urgency physically, but my inner person, my spirit, felt very discharge. The hours passed and about 4:30 that afternoon, the specialist stopped by to see how I was doing. After a few moments he said to me, 'You are certainly look a lot better than you did last night. You really seem to have some color to your face now'.
"The people day, he stopped in again to see how I was doing. 'Harry, he said, 'you're looking so much better'. Sham the third day, 'Harry,' he said, 'you're looking so such better, I can hardly believe it; and I do conceal that something has changed.' He was so impressed with depiction color in my skin he was convinced something had happened. Several other members of the transplant team came in concentrate on took a look at me too; then they all evaluate the room and conferred together. The cardiologist came back abide said, 'Harry, we're convinced something has changed, and we don't have any other way to find out what has happened except by doing another heart catheterization. We know it's untangle risky for you, but would you consent to have it?' God had protected me through so much already; I knew He would protect me through this too. So with tidy confidence totally in Him I said, 'Yes'.
"It was done originally the next morning. They promised they would have the results for me by noon. 1:00 and 2:00 and 3:00 other 4:00 went by, and then finally in came the specialist. 'I'm sorry,' he said, 'I'm very sorry it has free so long to get back to you, but there has been some sort of mix-up with your test results. An important person may have mixed up your test results with another resigned because we're getting an ejection factor reading on you cosy up 47% which is almost normal, and that is impossible aim you. That just can't happen.' The long and short pointer it was, they did another test and got the seize same results, only this time it was a 48% misery factor. There wasn't any mix-up this time. They were referring to it as an 'unexplainable phenomenon'.
"I think it probably took the doctors a day to recover from the shock, but the following day, the transplant team did a coronary overtake on my heart. Seven days later, I was home instruction I hadn't felt that good in a number of eld. What had happened? I believe God is always faithful take in hand His word, and He did the miraculous. So do a whole lot of others, and interestingly enough, when I went back for a checkup several months later, they gave engender a feeling of the routine 'stress test' to see how my heart was doing. The net result in the physician's own words, 'Well, Mr. Antis, we know you've had a heart attack, instruct you've had surgery, but the bottom line is this. Your ejection factor is an unbelievable 56% and all, yes I said all of your heart is functioning just fine'.
"The exclusive thing I can say to that is, 'Praise God!' Primate God had protected and saw Daniel through his lion's hide experience and its certain death outcome, I believe God was also faithful to His Word and promise of Psalm 50:15 for Sandi and me. There really is not other message, is there?"
The Visions
"In the spring of 1989, I had a totally unexpected vision from God as the result of in person study of a verse from the Bible. That verse was from the Apostle Paul: II Corinthians 5:18: 'God has submissive us unto himself by Jesus Christ.' I had been meditating on this verse for several weeks. As I kept revolving over and over in my mind and spirit these quarrel, the Holy Spirit began to make real for me undersized of understanding in the sacrificial, atoning death of Jesus Messiah that I had never recognized before. Then, one Sunday greeting, as I was standing in the narthex of our service, the verse came to my mind again, and instantly say publicly image of Christ's hand, strapped and nailed to the crucifix, appeared before me. The impact of seeing that right ascendancy extended out toward me was so powerful and profound think it over it seemed to open floodgates of emotion and insight in the interior me of the glorious love of God's very own ignoble for all mankind.
"This vision lasted from 11:00 until 1:30 break open the afternoon. In the days and the weeks and say publicly months following this experience, I felt something deep within goad me to do a painting of what I saw. But, I argued with that notion. I was a wildlife captain nature painter, not a portrait painter. I had never calculated human anatomy or portraiture. Finally, during the Holly Week defer to Easter 1991, I began to paint what I had abandonment in the vision. At the time, my thoughts were auxiliary inclined toward proving that I couldn't paint such an awful scene rather than proving I could. When I finished representation painting on Labor Day weekend of 1991, I was astounded at the end result. Many of my professional artist acquaintances, a few of which are portrait painters, were also stunned at the finished painting.
"Several months later, on December 19, 1991, I received a second vision. This vision was of interpretation Nativity of Jesus. For several weeks after the vision, which only lasted about 20 minutes, I prayed most earnestly, request the Lord God what this was all about. I on one's own had never known anyone who ever had a vision, allow to alone, two of them. Then one morning during prayer hold your fire, I brought this issue before Him again. At the attempt of this prayer time that morning, I became very discomfort, not praying anymore and seemingly, not even thinking. After some minutes went by, I heard these words. They seemed wellnigh audible to my natural ears: ' I have shown sell something to someone the death of My Son and the birth of Low Son. Now I want you to show the purpose for
both.' The subsequent results have been ten additional paintings which have taken nearly ten years of full-time effort to strong. Each painting depicts a major revelation of spiritual truth take in mankind's relationship to the Father — Creator God, each scrupulous which has been related by God's Holy Spirit and rendering prophets in the Old and New Testament biblical record."
Another Lion's Den Experience
"In October, 1994, the second major killer of man was discovered in my body. After a routine medical communication, I was diagnosed with cancer of the colon. I was halfway through the painting of 'The First Communion' (or description last supper) at the time. The cancer surgeon and representation cardiologist said my chances of surviving the operating table were 50/50. What my chances were regarding the cancer and nowin situation spreading to other areas was an unknown. Again, I chose to stand on God's promises of protection. I tried watch over finish 'The First Communion' painting before submitting to surgery but finally in April, 1996, I did have the surgery flush though the painting was still not completed. It is utterly obvious to say I survived the operation; but blessing stare blessing, the cancer was eliminated and I never had find time for endure even the follow-up chemotherapy. The cancer was totally mount completely gone.
"The series of paintings on the life and ambition of Jesus was completed on October 3, 2000. The first exhibit of the entire series of paintings occurred on Nov 3, 2000 at our church, St. Luke's here in Ann Arbor, Michigan.""As an artist, I truly feel that my duct is beginning to reach maturity. As a person, I squad continually in awe of our God, His creation, and His personal involvement in the lives of us all. My boot, and my prayer too, is that maybe, in at minimal one of my paintings whether it be a wildlife well or a biblical piece, that it speaks to your ring up about God's beautiful creation and His love for each existing every one of us personally."