The Penny Beaver

This mixed-media piece is the latest addition to Matt Vegh’s acclaimed Canada Wildlife Series. The Penny Beaver showcases four distinct layers of the artist’s signature painting styles and meticulous craftsmanship. At its foundation are the Four Seasons background quadrants, each rendered in rich, atmospheric tones that subtly evoke the changing Canadian landscape throughout the year. Layered above this is the artist’s Floral Abstract overlay, alive with expressive palette knife leaves in his distinctive style: bold, textured strokes that bring movement and organic energy to the composition while expressing the intertwined nature of the Beaver Dam. Comprising the third layer are 92 hand-selected, hand-trimmed, and hand-laid ink wash mosaic tiles. Each tile is individually chosen from a mother canvas and precisely placed, creating a complex yet symmetrical, shimmering field of color and texture that surrounds the central focal point. Crowning the piece is a hand-carved medallion: a beautifully detailed copper beaver scene reminiscent of a struck coin.

The warm, glowing copper medallion sits prominently at the center, radiating craftsmanship and national pride.