Peer critiques

Yesterday I had the fun opportunity to join a few of my peers for a group critique session (actually, all three of them are substantially further along in their careers, which made it even more important for me). The group met at Mike Malm's amazing new studio. It was quite helpful to get the group's consensus on problems I was facing in my own paintings (it was equally helpful to hear why they felt other paintings worked well). Also helpful to me was to hear and offer critiques on the works of the others involved. Needless to say, it was a fun and very valuable experience, and I look forward to next time.

Small outdoor paintings

I've been having a great time painting outdoors for the past few months...it's a habit I've forgone for far too long. When I've done it, I've always found plein-air (outdoor, on location) painting to be the most rewarding type for me. Here's an example of a finished plein-air painting below (this one measure 8"x10")...this was painted on a relatively warm morning just a few weeks ago, in late August. It depicts the Blacksmith Fork River in Cache Valley, Utah as it runs near my home.



Please view my new paintings, including these small ones, on my website's "paintings" page:
www.trentgudmundsen.com/paintings.html

P.S.-

These small paintings are currently available direct from the studio.
8x10's are $900.00,
9x12's are $1,100.00, and
11x14's are $1,270.00...feel free to ask about other sizes.

A wonderful home to come home to!

This morning I got up early to go paint with a local figure painting group...nobody was there.
Then I drove up to the University to see if there was a group up there...no such luck.
I then went to a ballet studio where I've photographed in the past...classes were canceled today.
The Opera company was closed, the restaurants I usually paint weren't open yet, and even the landscape was too gray to really enjoy painting.

So I came back home, slightly defeated. But when I opened the door, I was overjoyed to find that my wonderful wife and kids were all awake and happy...The happy cries of "Daddy's home!" made up for any amount of defeat I may have felt. What a nice morning it turned out to be! :)

Moving up...to linen!

About 7 or 8 years ago, after getting paid for a small residential mural, I bought a roll of Claessen's oil primed linen. It was so expensive that I never could justify using it...until a couple weeks ago, when I finally decided it was time to move up to the highest quality materials money could buy. The carefully prepared hardboard panels I've been using are great, but now I'm going to be adhering (using archival acid-free PVA adhesive) oil-primed linen to the masonite panels. I've already made several, which turned out beautiful (nice and flat, with no wrinkles or peeling corners). I also asked the advice of another artist, who has been doing the same thing for years...I was glad to hear that I was already doing it the right way.

I've also been experimenting with different brands of paint. I've come to the conclusion that for the sake of smell, I'd probably go with Schmincke Mussinni oil paints...I know that sounds strange...they're made with a little bit of damar resin in the paint, which makes them smell great! (That smell reminds me of VaLoy Eaton's studio; VaLoy was the first professional artist I had ever met [when I was 14], and who is still a major influence and a valued friend). But back to the paint: I think I'll go with Windsor & Newton (which I'm already using a bit...I really like the buttery consistency and strong colors), and Rembrandt. A friend of mine uses Permalba for his white...I'll have to try that out.

Oil Painters of America: National Show

I got a painting accepted into the Oil Painters of America National Show in Santa Fe, NM. The show will hang during the entire month of May. It will be a few weeks before the awards are given, but only about 200 paintings out of 1,500 artists (and 2,400 entries) were chosen to hang, so I consider it an honor.

Actually, I'm really, REALLY excited! This is one of my favorite paintings...there's just a certain freshness to it. The old "less is more" adage applies here, I think.

The painting is called Bistro Waitress, 24"x18"

You can see more interior paintings on the following page of my website: www.trentgudmundsen.com/interiors.html

Honorable Mention Award!

I just found out that I won an award at a cool invitational show in southern Utah! It was at the Dixie State Invitational Art Show at Dixie State College in St. George. I wasn't able to attend the awards ceremony, but next time I'll have to try harder. (We were really busy fixing up our house for some potential buyers). The painting is called "Spinning Wool" (20"x16"). It can be found in the "figures" section of my website.

Painting accepted in Salon International Show

I was excited to find out today that I got a painting accepted into the Salon International Show at Greenhouse Gallery in San Antonio (click here for the list of accepted entries). It's always fun to know that I've gotten into the same show as some other great artists whose work I really admire.

I was taking photos of restaurants in downtown Fort Collins, Colorado, when I happened to pass this girl on the sidewalk. I immediately turned around and asked for her permission to take her picture. (I was drawn to the fact that she was wearing clothing that echoed the background nicely, and that she also happened to be very photogenic). She was nice enough to even let me "pose" her a little until I got a photo I was happy with.. and here's the result!

My painting is entitled "Red and Yellow Purse", (24"x12").

As always, you can visit my website, www.trentgudmundsen.com, for more.

-Trent

Giant mural just completed!

I just finished the mural at the American West Heritage Center. It measures 10 feet tall and 72 feet wide. In all, I actually only painted about 450 square feet (there are several large cut-outs to allow for dioramas and displays)...but that's still pretty big; usually I just deal in square inches instead of feet.

Here is the autumn panel of the mural (this particular panel measures about 10 feet by 5 1/2 feet). I refer to them as "panels," but they are all actually connected...there's a 2-foot high strip of painted area at the top of the cut-outs between each panel.

Go to my website to view the other panels and some progress photos from last month. www.trentgudmundsen.com ...go to the bottom of the homepage, and click on the photo of me painting the mural.



Here is the summer/fall panel (about 10x12 feet)

-As a matter of interest, right now I'm working on four smaller paintings that will echo the feeling of the mural. The first one will depict the Shoshone tribe in their winter camp near Preston, Idaho (at the site where they were later massacred by the U.S. army).