Being outdoors amidst the wild things and wild places has inspired the work of cowboy and artist Teal Coke Blake since he first picked up a paintbrush.

“It’s part of the reclusive nature of an artist and the beauty of being out alone in nature, and there’s a church-like aesthetic to it. You can be with yourself all day and travel the rivers and just enjoy the beauty around you.”

Teal doesn’t just paint the beauty of Texas’ wildlife, waters and iconic landscapes, he wants to conserve and protect them. It’s the reason he became an ambassador for Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation’s (TPWF) We Will Not Be Tamed campaign, which calls on us to appreciate the wildness of Texas, the vastness of our Texas spirit and why we should be inspired to conserve it.

Since 1991, TPWF has invested more than $190 million to conserve our state’s wildlife, habitat and natural resources, and TPWF members are important partners in these conservation efforts.

By becoming a member of TPWF, you are supporting projects like the acquisition of the 17,351-acre Powderhorn Ranch, a pristine tract of rapidly vanishing coastal prairie, the construction of artificial reefs in the Gulf of Mexico to improve the nearshore marine environment, and the pronghorn restoration in the grasslands of West Texas.

The future of Texas depends on all of us working together to advance our outdoor traditions and conserve our wildlife, habitat and natural resources.

Will you join or renew with TPWF today and take a stand with Teal and TPWF members all across the state so Texans, both now and for future generations, can connect with our natural heritage?

P.S. If you join or renew your membership with TPWF by October 15, you will be entered into a TPWF drawing* to win a weekend for two to the 54th Annual Cowboy Artists of America Sale and Exhibition in Fort Worth on November 1-3, 2019 featuring the work of We Will Not Be Tamed Ambassador Teal Coke Blake. This experience is courtesy of TPWF sponsor Tito’s Handmade Vodka.

*The price of membership pays for TPWF membership only and not for the chance to win the weekend at the Cowboy Artists of America Sale & Exhibition. Members who join between Jan. 1 and Oct. 15, 2019 are automatically entered in the drawing. Includes accommodations for a two-night stay in Fort Worth. Meals and transportation are not included. Click here for additional details.