Charley Harper loved animals and nature but was quick to remind folks that he was an artist, not a naturalist: I think flat, simple, and funny. In a style he called minimal realism, Harper used geometric shapes, patterns, and vivid colors to simplify nature s complexities and bring out each critter s personality. With the cheeky tail end of a deer or the chubby cheeks of a squirrel snacking at a birdfeeder, Harper s artwork makes viewers smile.