Smokey Bear marks his 80th birthday this year, but Saylorsburg artist Gary Embich began celebrating the U.S. Forest Service character years ago.

For his “America’s Beautiful” collection of watercolor paintings, Embich traveled across the nation to depict Smokey standing beneath California’s redwood trees, strolling on Kentucky blue grass, and riding a bobsled beneath the aurora borealis in Alaska.

“In watercolor, I paint anything. I paint anything that moves me. It’s what I love to do,” he said.

His collection of Smokey paintings — one for each state — was recently featured at the Lehigh Gap Nature Center.

The paintings, done from on-site research, promote the preservation of the country by reminding people that they can do their part to keep America Beautiful by preventing wildfires that can destroy the beautiful and unique things that each state has to offer.

An official Smokey Bear licensee of the U.S. Forest Service, Embich’s interest in painting Smokey Bear began years ago when he and his wife, Nancy, saw a 50th anniversary Smokey sign featuring a black cat.

“We had a black cat, and we thought, ‘Oh, this is nice,’ ” he said. “So then we went out and began taking pictures in front of the different Smokey signs across the country where we were traveling.”

The two became involved in the Smokey Bear Association and realized that Smokey — the public service figure known for his catchphrase, “Only You” — had many fans.

So as the 100th anniversary of the U.S. Forest Service neared, Embich painted Gray Towers National Historic Site in Milford.

“I added Smokey and made them available to collectors,” he said.

Interest was high — and Embich set a goal of painting Smokey in all 50 states.

“Our concept was to paint ‘America’s Beautiful — Let’s Keep It That Way,’ ” he said.

The idea was approved by the Forest Service, and Embich was licensed to use Smokey’s likeness.

“We wanted to have Smokey Bear saving something that was unique in every state,” Embich said.

He and Nancy contacted states for their suggestions on what and where to paint but received just one response — from Indiana.

“It was Pioneer Mothers Memorial, which is actually a stone memorial in the middle of a forest that’s only accessed by hiking trails. You can’t drive to it,” Embich said.

He and Nancy trekked to the memorial, and it was the first painting in the series that Embich completed.

With no responses from other states, the Embichs researched unique spots.

And when they found one, Nancy — a photographer — took shots. Embich then used the photographs as he painted in his Sun Oak Arts Studio in Saylorsburg.

The process was to take about six years, but when Embich started to have trouble with his eyes, it took 14 years.

“In that process, I had 13 major eye surgeries,” he said.

The finished product features Smokey with manatees in Florida’s Blue Spring State Park, watching birds in New York’s Catskill Forest Preserve and blowing on a milkweed pod in Virginia’s Shenandoah National Park.

His favorite creations, he said, are those of Smokey in Minnesota and Wyoming.

“For some reason, I love Minnesota because for that, I show the origin of the Mississippi River,” he said. “The other one I like is Wyoming because of the different animals and the different environment.”

Wyoming, he noted, shows Yellowstone National Park with buffalo, elk and geysers beneath a stunning sky.

“We go out and reference backgrounds to find animals indigenous to that area,” Embich said. “Then I build the paintings based on those references.”

Of course, Smokey Bear wears his signature ranger hat and jeans in all paintings. In many, he’s toting his shovel.

When all 50 states were complete, the Forest Service asked Embich to consider publishing a book. The “America’s Beautiful” book features the paintings along with descriptions the environment where Smokey is shown.

Books and art are available by contacting Embich through his website, www.sunoakarts.com.

A native of Annville, Embich is a graduate of the former Art Institute of Pittsburgh. He worked with the design group of American Can Company in Easton, served with the U.S. Army in Korea and resumed his art career at American Can’s Dixie Division, eventually becoming a manager in the graphics department of Georgia Pacific Corp. through 2004.

He opened the studio in 2005 and continues to paint wildlife, landscapes, still lifes and portraits, and teaches classes in drawing, watercolor and other art skills.

He signature member of the Pennsylvania Watercolor Society and the Baltimore Watercolor Society, and a member of both the Pocono Arts Council and Pocono Mountains Art Group.