Ernest C. Simmons

During his formative years, a fascination with sketching, an affinity for photography, and a passion for wildlife - especially the birds of Florida - soon merged into an obsession that has honed Simmons' great eye for detail and satisfied his natural yearnings for the outdoors. Simmons received no formal art training, but instead has taken advantage of nature's classroom; there, he has spent thousands of hours drawing, studying and photographing his wild subjects and their vanishing habitats. When transferring his visions to canvas, Simmons concentrates on acrylic as well as gouache and oil.

Simmons' stunning paintings of birds and other wildlife are known for their fine detail and realism, and his original art and limited edition prints are widely collected. Ernest Simmons is currently represented by The Plainsmen Gallery in Clearwater, Florida.

Ernest has won numerous awards, including the Florida Coastal Conservation Association's Artist of the Year, The International Miniature Art Show, Florida Duck's Unlimited Artist of the Year, he has placed in the top ten in the Federal Duck Stamp Competition several times recently, and he won the Florida Duck Stamp competition at the age of 22. He also won the "People's Choice Award" at the 8th Annual "Wildlife & Western Visions" Art Show in 2007, for his spectacular piece "White Pelicans Preening in the Preserve."

"Southern Bald Eagle" New acrylic by Ernest Simmons, 10"x7" $2400

"Tri-Colored Heron" New acrylic by Ernest Simmons, 7"x10" $2,200

"Warming up in the Morning Light" Giclee by Ernest Simmons, $200

"Spoonbills in the Sea Fog" Giclee Print by Ernest Simmons