Andrew Peters

Artist Biography

Peters was fascinated by nature from a young age, particularly the marshlands and waterfowl he closely observed on hunting and fishing trips with his father. Peters' mother recognized the artist's early interest in art and enrolled him in art classes at the nearby Joslyn Art Museum. Here he studied the work of John James Audubon and Karl Bodmer's watercolors. Always drawn to the accuracy and details of these works, Peters decided to study both art and ornithology, working under naturalist Jim Malkowski at the Fontenelle Forest Nature Center and later earning a Bachelor of Science degree with a minor in art at Iowa State University. The Sandhill and Whooping cranes that migrate through Nebraska are a symbolic and exacting subject for the artist, combining his appreciation for Audubon's work and his extensive ornithology studies. The themes of this painting were a collaborative effort between the artwork's commissioners, the artist, and MONA. Every aspect of the painting has been faithfully and authentically depicted, including the harvested cornfield setting, time of day and atmosphere, and each bird's posture and action.