Chris Ruggia's Pictures & Comics

I am practicing on some owls to prepare for a live art event I am scheduled to do at Birding the Border in Del Rio on May 1. This little guy is the first result.

Elf Owls are the world’s smallest owl species, and they are found near to us in the Nature Conservancy’s Davis Mountains Preserve. After I finished this painting, I realized that I had unknowingly painted this owl at actual size (about 6 inches tall)!

I will eventually frame up the original and take it to the 5th Street Gallery in downtown Alpine, but in the meantime I have an actual-size 11x14” limited edition print and a slightly smaller 8x10” print available at chrisruggia.com.

Marfa Public Radio asked me to make some artwork for their annual Valentine’s Day postcard this year!

www.marfapublicradio.org/love

You can send the postcard to your loved one, postmarked in Valentine, Texas, if you request it by midnight Feb 12!

We’ve also created a fine art print of the drawing in three different color versions: Orange, Pink and Rose. Pick your favorite and pick up a signed, numbered limited edition print with 50% of the funds going directly to our friends at Marfa Public Radio!

You can also select anything on my website (paintings, prints, books, stickers), use the promo code “radio” during checkout and I will donate half of your purchase to support public radio in the Big Bend.

chrisruggia.com

❤️ Happy Valentine’s Day! ❤️

Hey! Mateo Mares and I will be sitting in this evening with The Latecomers at The Ritchey! 7-9pm!

Thanks to Tony Drewry for the photo

Do you have big windows? You can save your neighborhood birds from potentially fatal collisions!!

These little vinyl squares are pretty easy to install, they don’t detract from the view and they make the glass visible to our flying friends.

We still have a couple of sizable doors to cover, but this is one more window done!

Hand tracing a transparency to enlarge my Montezuma Quail onto a canvas!

The Swifts had a WONDERFUL time Saturday with a big, loving crowd and incredible weather. Couldn’t ask for more!

Thanks to Adam Walton for the photo

Eden Hinshaw, Amelie Urbanczyk and I first performed as The Swifts in July 2015, but these musical friendships go back way farther than that!

Eden + Amelie: met at UNT in Denton and started playing together as Chili Baby, 35+ years ago.

Eden + Chris: played together in Alpine, 29 or so years ago during Eden’s first brief time here.

Amelie + Chris: played together as The Swafford Five for several years in Alpine starting in the late 90s.

When Eden moved back in 2014, she and Amelie started talked about making music together again. They invited me to join them and these three long-long-time friends all played together for the first time!

Since that time Tony and Neil have added tremendously to the sound, but from day one, Three has been The Magic Number for The Swifts to exist!

We had a very successful weekend at the Davis Mountains Hummingbird Celebration!

I did get my hummingbird stickers in time and shockingly, all of our pieces with birds sold the best 🤯🤯🤯 (note for next time 😁)

And our neighboring table mates spent a little quality time with my comics as well!

Ellen and I are getting ready for our vendor table at the Davis Mountains Hummingbird Celebration this week!

Here is an overview of most of the items I will have. I am hoping that a brand new hummingbird sticker will arrive today. Ellen will have notecard packages with her botanical artwork, and possibly some prints.

Rachael, Holly and Juliana at the 5the Street Gallery have hung my new bear pics with the rest of the work I have in the gallery. I have a whole wall now!!! 🤩

Borderlands Research Institute bear researcher Matthew Hewitt picked up one of my 5-minute drawings last weekend!

Here’s what Matt said about it:
“I really appreciate this 5-minute drawing of a kit fox by Chris Ruggia because it reminds me of my time as a masters student. I looked at estimating the distribution of this endemic species in the Trans-Pecos, and I enjoy the reminder of those good times.”

THANKS, MATT!

August 1 & 2 is a Big Bend Black Bear Weekend in Alpine TX!

Friday, August 1 at .streetgallery
5-7pm: Art Reception
Original bear paintings and Drawings by wildlife artist Chris Ruggia
Live Music by Nick & Janelle(!!!!!)

Saturday, August 2 at
1-2pm: Bear Research Talk
Bear researchers Caitlin Camp, Jesse Ellgren and Matthew Hewitt will join wildlife artist Chris Ruggia to discuss the latest from Borderlands Research Institute!
Plus info and advice from Texas Parks & Wildlife on what we need to do to make our neighborhoods safe for people AND the bears who might visit!

2-4pm: 5-Minute Animal Drawings by wildlife artist Chris Ruggia

PLUS: Black Bear Art Giveaway at chrisruggia.com – ENTER NOW, the winner will be announced 7pm Aug 1 at 5th Street Gallery!