Kyle Ploehn is an artist, illustrator and writer living in Billings Montana. He likes to spend the few hours he isn't painting hiking the mountains of Montana.

The pixilation series is based on the idea of everything being digital. Anymore it's easier to spend your time finding cool things on the internet rather than go out into the real world to make your own memories. These pieces (The pixilation series) help me to balance the ease of using the internet and actually venturing out into the world. Being Montana born and bred, I've been out in nature all my life, however I fell into the trap of ease and negligence that the internet brings and still, to this day, struggle under it. I'm afraid the digital generation may overcome the physical world and leave wilderness protection and animal appreciation out in the cold, so to speak. The internet is a great tool and a wonderful connection, but these paintings are my fear that we may lose those real world beauties and wonders to digital images forever if we're not careful.

Barn owls are one of my favorite birds, and I'm always excited and pleased when I get the chance to see them in real life. So this painting helps remind myself to get out my chair and out of my studio to go seek out the real thing, not only for my art, but for my expanding wonder in our beautiful planet.

The original is still available, an 18x24, framed for $800.

Unmatted 11x14 prints are available for $30. Contact me at [email protected], if you're interested in purchasing a print or visit me at http://kyleploehnart.blogspot.com