"Beguiled by the Wild" includes more than 110 full-color images accompanied by intriguing, pun-filled captions, this hardcover book published in 1994, pays homage to one of America's most beloved artists. Charley Harper (1922-2007), with his masterly use of simple geometric shapes, patterns, and vivid colors, distilled the essence of each bird, bug, otter, raccoon, or elephant he painted to its most important details. He called his style of painting "minimal realism... Instead of trying to put everything in when I paint, I try to leave everything out... I reduce the subject to the simplest possible visual terms without losing identity, thereby enhancing identity." Harper's approach to depicting the natural world is both sophisticated and fun. His works-especially those of cardinals and ladybugs-have become icons of wildlife art.