Read this Wildlife Art Journal article

It isn’t enough to say the Society of Animal Artists is the oldest fraternity/sorority of painters and sculptors celebrating wildlife art in North America.  The issue is why it endures and what is the key to its longevity. Two important metrics for gauging the health of any organization like the SAA are: 1. Its ability to recruit young, convention-challenging members into its fold of seasoned veterans; and 2. the vitality of works being submitted to its hallmark annual event—Art and the Animal —opening  in  autumn 2011 at the Dennos Museum Center in Traverse City, Michigan.

David J. Wagner, the longtime coordinator of Art and the Animal’s traveling exhibition, says this in response to the first question above involving  recruitment of fresh blood:

“From a membership standpoint, the SAA is as robust as ever.  The challenge isn’t generating interest in the organization or attracting interest from people who want to join,” he says. “The key element always is maintaining the quality of artists and level of artwork required for induction.”

Hence, the second question:  vitality of work.  While Art and the Animal remains a showcase for more traditional approaches to realistic portrayals of wildlife and habitat, the 2011 field of 128 juried works going before judges for top prizes is strong.  Some of those pieces are now on public display at The Wildlife Experience in Parker, Colorado, a suburb of Denver.

"These artists include the likes of masters such as Robert Bateman, Guy Coheleach, Guy Harvey,...