Ken Carlson, like many of his contemporaries, began his career in art as a commercial artist. He says, "I can't remember a time when I didn't dream of being an artist. That's all I ever wanted to be. Birds and animals were all I ever wanted to paint." He entered a "Draw Me" contest at the age of fifteen, won and took advantage of the prize, a two-year scholarship to the Art Instruction School in Minneapolis.

Carlson says his interest in natural subjects began early in his Minnesota childhood and has continued with total dedication to learning and painting nature. While Carlson lived in Minnesota and then in California, he spent more than three decades as a free-lance illustrator. During that time, every free moment was spen...