Tim Ladwig: Artist in Residence at Wehr Nature Center
August 29, 2026 | Topics: featured artist
The Natural Realm presents Tim Ladwig, who is among 12 artists participating in a year-long residency program called ARTservancy, now in its seventh year. ARTservancy is a collaboration between Gallery 224 in Port Washington and the Restoring Lands Land Trust, Milwaukee Area Land Conservancy, Tall Pines Conservancy, and Lake Michigan Bird Observatory. The mission of ARTservancy is to promote the visionary work of both the artists and conservationists. Each artist has selected a preserve to spend time in and to engage with.
Reflections from the Artist
The place I have chosen for my residency is the Wehr Nature Center in Whitnall Park. I grew up nearby and have a strong personal connection to the park. One summer, I worked there clearing streams and building split rail fences, which deepened my appreciation for the natural environment.
The Wehr Nature Center is a habitat for a variety of wildlife, including wild turkeys, deer, rabbits, geese, and many different species of birds. There are several very large, very old trees near the lake. These trees appear like wise old beings who bear the scars of time in their rutted bark. This diversity of animals and plants makes it an inspiring place for the subject of my paintings.
I have been creating watercolor paintings for several years. I enjoy working with watercolor because its translucent quality allows me to capture natural light and achieve smooth transitions between light and dark areas. This medium helps me bring the natural beauty of the park to life in my paintings.
I prefer to work from photographs rather than painting directly outdoors. Using photos allows me the time and control needed to carefully develop each piece. I take my photos on sunny days to capture the trees and vegetation brightly lit, making them look vibrant, alive, and radiant. These photos serve as a foundation for my paintings, helping me translate the energy and beauty of the natural world onto paper.
Gallery
Bio
I grew up on a farm in Franklin, Wisconsin, where my appreciation for the land, the cows, the river, and the fields of crops has only deepened over time. After graduating from high school, I earned a degree in art and later an MFA from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM). I have taught drawing classes at UWM, Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC), and continuing education courses at the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD). As a member of the artist group Sight 225, I have exhibited my artwork in various shows. Over the years, I have explored different mediums, transitioning from acrylic to watercolor painting, continually evolving my artistic practice.
More information about Wehr Nature Center and Whitnall Park is on our Find-a-Park page.
Additional ARTservancy artists in residence at other sites can be found here.
This is the latest in our series of featured artists, which is intended to showcase the work of photographers, artists, writers and other creative individuals in our community whose subjects or themes relate in some broad sense to nature, urban nature, people in nature, etc. To see a list of previously featured artists, click here. The work of the 2022-2023 ARTservancy artists in residence is currently being exhibited monthly at Gallery 224. To meet the other ARTservancy artists in residence, click here and then use the drop-down menu.
All images courtesy of the artist, except as noted. The featured photo at the top of Tim Ladwig at Wehr Nature Center is by Eddee Daniel. Milwaukee County Parks Department is a project partner of A Wealth of Nature.
The Natural Realm blog is part of A Wealth of Nature, which is a project of Preserve Our Parks.
About Preserve Our Parks
Preserve Our Parks, Inc. is an independent nonprofit organization dedicated to the preservation of parks and green spaces. Our mission: To advocate for and promote Milwaukee area parks and open spaces and to strive to protect the tenets of Wisconsin’s Public Trust Doctrine.
For more than 25 years, we have been a leader in advocating for the protection of Milwaukee County park lands, halting many proposals to develop, privatize, or sell local parkland and lakefront spaces. More information about POP, including past accomplishments, is available at www.preserveourparks.org.