BOONE, N.C. - North Carolina wildlife artist Ryan Kirby has done it again. The November 2015 issue of Outdoor Life - one of America's oldest and most popular outdoor magazines - will feature Kirby's newest white-tailed deer painting on the cover.
This is the second consecutive year that Kirby has landed his art on the cover - quite a feat considering Outdoor Life took a 20-year hiatus from artwork on its cover before finding a synergy with Kirby.
"We went out on a limb with art last year after decades of using strictly photography on our cover - the most prominent spot in our publication," said Andrew McKean, Outdoor Life editor-in-chief. "The October 2014 issue that featured his painting was our top-seller. The feedback from our readers was so positive, we asked Ryan to paint for us again this year."
Outdoor Life was first published in 1898 and today boasts a circulation of more than 750,000. The magazine covers the outdoor lifestyle with a focus on fishing, hunting, survival and camping.
The November 2015 issue of Outdoor Life is on newsstands now and features Kirby's original oil painting of a titanic whitetail buck in hot pursuit of a doe during the rut - the term used to describe breeding season for white-tailed deer. The rut typically takes place throughout the fall in the whitetail's range.
"Ask a hunter what he or she goes to sleep dreaming about during hunting season and it's the scene from the November cover," said Kirby. "The sights and sounds of the rut - the chance to see a buck of that magnitude - are what it's all about. I tried to capture the most intense moment a hunter could ever face...a giant buck chasing a doe straight in your direction."
For outdoor enthusiasts and wildlife art collectors, framed canvas prints of Ryan Kirby's wildlife art are available for purchase at RyanKirbyArt.com. For a limited time, both the October 2014 cover painting - titled "Running and Gunning" - and the November 2015 cover painting can be purchased together on sale for $100 off.
"Now that I've painted for two Outdoor Life covers, the canvas prints are collectible," says Kirby. "The frames are beautiful and together with the art, make an incredible piece of rustic home decor. And with more paintings coming in the future, they are an investment that will grow in value."
Right now, Kirby's November 2015 cover painting is nameless, but that's about to change. Outdoor Life's social media followers are in the midst of a contest to decide the winning name of Kirby's painting. To see the latest ideas, visit www.Facebook.com/OutdoorLife.
To learn more about Ryan Kirby or to contact the artist, visit www.RyanKirbyArt.com. To connect with Kirby online, follow Ryan Kirby Art on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
About Ryan Kirby:
Ryan Kirby is an award-winning wildlife artist who focuses on original oil canvas paintings of a variety of game animals including white-tailed deer, elk, waterfowl, wild turkeys, upland birds and more.
A lifelong hunter, angler and conservationist, Kirby was named the National Wild Turkey Federation's (NWTF) 2010 and 2016 "Stamp Print Artist of the Year" and "Artist of The Year" in 2013 and 2014 by The Quality Deer Management Association (QDMA). Kirby 's work has helped raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for wildlife conservation through the fundraising banquets of groups like NWTF, QDMA, Ducks Unlimited and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.
Kirby also is a featured exhibitor at the annual Southeast Wildlife Exposition in Charleston, S.C. He lives in Boone, N.C. with his wife, Kim. To view Kirby's online gallery, visit www.RyanKirbyArt.com.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Michael Turbyfill
michael@boonetown.co
