Chuck Prudhomme |
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| Artist Statement As an oil painter I am interested in documenting and sharing a moment in time of that space between mankind and nature. I travel extensively looking for that ray of breaking light, a weather beaten factory, an old dairy farm , a vibrant street scene or a dramatic coastal sunset. I am primarily a plein air painter where I attempt to capture the spirit of the place in a loose painterly fashion rather than a photo realistic replica. I enjoy bright vibrant colors and thick paint application where one can see the brush strokes and feel the energy of what caught my eye to begin with. I am a story teller with a brush. |
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I was raised in East Africa on the plains of the Serengeti National Park where I began drawing as a child. After college I spent 21 years flying helicopters for the US Army and the US Coast Guard from a myriad of locations throughout the world to include Antarctica, Greenland, Korea, Vietnam and South America. I continued to draw and paint as a hobby during my experiences around the world. After my retirement from the Coast Guard I flew emergency medical helicopters for hospitals in Texas, Arizona and California, and also flew fire suppression helicopters for the California Division of Forestry. My flying career ended due to a cardiac arrest in 1998 at which time I began my journey as a full time fine artist which has always been a dream of mine. I am primarily self- taught except for regular attendance at plein air oil painting workshops with a variety of professional plein air oil painters to include: Craig Nelson, John Budecin, Ned Mueller, Ray Roberts and others. I prefer Plein Aire painting where I try in some small way to capture the essence and spirit of the place. I travel extensively painting on location throughout the West. I also paint in my studio using my photographs or my memory as a reference. I am an oil painter and I prefer to paint in a loose, quick impressionistic style. I especially enjoy the application and tactile quality of thick oil paint with bright expressive color. My work has been accepted in 4 national juried shows. I was selected to paint Whiskeytown National Recreation Area on a Christmas tree Ornament for the White House Christmas Tree in December 2007. I attended a reception hosted by the First Lady, Laura Bush at the White house. I exhibit at the Red Bluff Art Gallery, Shasta Regional Medical Center, Wine Time, Whiskeytown National Recreation Area, the North Valley Art League and the Redding Municipal Airport all in Redding, California. My paintings are also in numerous private collections around the country. I am represented by: Art and Soul gallery in Ashland, Oregon.