Who are you and what do you do?
I am Joyce Wilking, artist, and owner of Wildlife Up Close. I paint acrylic wildlife pictures of the birds, waterfowl, and animals I see in central Minnesota.
How does the city you live in influence your work?
I live on a lake in Chisago, MN. I am influenced every day by the abundance of wildlife in my yard, on the lake or in the neighborhood that changes every season.
What do your customers love most about your product(s)?
When customers from across the nation see or buy my wildlife paintings, they’re eager to share their stories, memories or experiences with specific birds, waterfowl, or animals. I absolutely love those stories.
What do you think sets your designs apart from others?
I try to make my acrylic wildlife paintings as realistic as possible by putting the subject in a real situation such as: in a nest with babies, hunting for food, hiding in trees, flying, or swimming.
What is the latest thing you have been working on?
Each of the four seasons bring changes for wildlife: return to Minnesota or passing through, their habits, mating rituals, change in colors, and raising or protecting their family. Each season renews my interest in the changes of wildlife around me.
Joyce Wilking
Wildlife Up Close
10890 Green Lake Trail,
Chisago City, MN 55013
651-249-5667
