My name is Missy Buetow. I’m a small-town girl living in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. I  first became interested in art as a high school student. Since then, it has become a true passion of mine. I mainly paint on canvas using oil or acrylic but also like to switch things up with water color. I have always been drawn to nature and wildlife as my subject matter. I have always enjoyed being outdoors. I just love looking for the colors and qualities that are better captured by paint on a canvas than by a camera. Endangered species have been one of my favorite subjects to recreate on canvas. Recently, I got the chance to see many of these beautiful creatures in their natural habitat during a trip to Seattle. Seeing an orca up close was incredible and had the biggest impact on me. It was amazing! I hope to continue to paint these wonderful marine animals like the orca. My goal is to spread awareness for the preservation of their fragile ecosystem. One thing I enjoy doing as an artist is to leave the backgrounds of my paintings blurred. This gives the viewer a chance to imagine the subject of the painting anywhere they choose for it to be, without my input.