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About Grant Hacking
Born and raised in South Africa, wildlife artist Grant Hacking, moved to the United States in 1990. He now resides in the White Mountains of New Hampshire with his wife and two daughters. Both of Hacking’s parents are artists. "I never assumed I would be a professional artist," he said in a Wildlife Art magazine interview. "In fact, my father discouraged it."
The world refused to ignore his artistic talents. At the age of 16 his school commissioned him to do a painting of a steenbok. During his two years of national service the army discovered his skill and set him to work painting portraits of high-ranking officers. He was offered a permanent post with the museum of military history but declined in favor of a conventional job with computers. The company soon realized he could paint and offered him a better salary to fill the walls with art. "It finally dawned on me that I could make money with my paintings. What more could I ask than to do what I loved most and make a living at the same time?"
"I am crazy about wildlife." Hacking says. "When I am out looking at the animals in their natural environment I don’t spend much time thinking about painting. I simply enjoy experiencing what I am seeing. I see scenes in nature that are impressive and that provoke response. By the time I return home: however, these scenes have developed into stormy skies and vivid lights and have become much more dramatic in my imagination."
His work continues to be received with great enthusiasm in the United States and Europe, with paintings on display in various museums including the Nature in Art Museum in England, the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum, and the Lindsay Art Museum in California. Along with his wildlife art accolades he recently won 1st Place in the 2003 Artist’s Magazine 20th Annual Art Competition, and his recent tribute to the U.S. Flag, which was displayed in the New York Governor’s Mansion, now hangs in the Armory in New York City’s Central Park.
Click here to see Grant Hacking's original works of art | 
