Richard Lundgren
Richard Lundgren is a nationally recognized pastel artist. His paintings have won national awards in 22 juried competitions in New York, New Orleans, Cape Cod, Pittsburgh, Seattle, Raleigh, Sacramento and other cities. These include the top award in the prestigious Degas Pastel Society Show in 2006 and 2004 and the Gold Award at the International Association of Pastel Societies show in Raleigh, NC in 2005. He was awarded signature membership in the Pastel Society of America in 2004. In 2007 he gained Master Circle status in the International Association of Pastel Societies. His work has appeared in The Pastel Journal, American Artist, International Artist and Pastel Artist International magazines.
Background
I find nature a perfect resource for subject matter. A natural setting challenges me to capture its shapes, values and colors in a way that conveys a sense of place and ambience to the viewer.
I studied art in college and at the Art Institute of Chicago before going on to a career in Human Resource Management. During the next thirty years, I was a weekend artist, working mostly in watercolor. Retiring in 1999, I returned to painting full time and began working with pastel. I enjoy the ease and immediacy of pastel. The sticks of pure pigment provide the brilliant color we see in the world around us. Sometimes I paint on location but most of my work is done in the studio. Both approaches work for me. On site painting helps me understand my subject, and working in the studio allows me to use photos of those “special moments in nature” to re-create the subtle, ever-changing patterns of light that attracted me to the setting.
National Juried Exhibition Awards
2007 Pastel Socity of America 35th Annual Exhibition, New York,NY—Pastel Sociity of Hawaii Award
2007 Pastel Society of the West Coast, 21st Annual International Exhibition—Winsor & Newton Award
2006 Pastel Painters Society of Cape Cod 11th Annual Exhibition—Connecticut Pastel Society Award
2006 Taiwan Center 2nd Annual International Pastel Exhibition, Flushing NY—Honorable Mention
2006 Pastel Society of the West Coast 20th Annual International Exhibition—APOW-Mickey Woolwich Award
2005 International Association of Pastel Societies 8th Juried Exhibition, Raleigh NC--Gold Award
2005 Taiwan Center 1st Annual International Juried Exhibition, Flushing NY--Honorable Mention
2004 Degas Pastel Society’s 10th Biennial National Exhibition, New Orleans--Award of Exceptional Merit
2004 Northwest Pastel Society 18th International Open Exhibition, Everett, WA—Dakota Art/Schmincke Award
2004 Pastel Painters Society of Cape Cod 9th Annual Exhibition—Pastel Society of America Award
2004 10th Annual National Pastel Exhibition, La Fond Gallery, Pittsburgh, PA—1st. Prize
2004 Pastel Society of N Florida’s 8th Biennial National Exhib. Ft. Walton Beach, FL--Canson Inc. Award
2003 Degas Pastel Society’s Members Show, New Orleans, LA-Award of Merit
2003 Pastel Society of America, 31st Annual Exhibition, New York, NY—Pastels Girault Award
2003 9th Annual National Pastel Competition, La Fond Gallery, Pittsburgh, PA—Third Place
2003 Northwest Pastel Society, 17th Annual Open International Exhib. Seattle—Puget Sound N-west Painters Award
2002 International Association of Pastel Societies 6th Juried Exhibition Placerville CA—Honorable Mention
2002 Pastel Artist International, Landscape Challenge—Finalist
2002 Pastel Painters Society of Cape Cod 7th Annual Exhibition—Second Runner Up
2002 8th Annual National Pastel Competition, La Fond Gallery, Pittsburgh, PA--Second Place
2002 Northwest Pastel Society, 16th Annual Open International Exhibit. Seattle, WA—NPS Director’s Award
2001 Pastel Painters Society of Cape Cod 6th Annual Exhibition—Award of Merit
2001 Pastel Society of America, 29th Annual Exhibition, New York, NY
2001 Pastel USA, 15th International Open Exhibition, Pastel Society of the West Coast—Merv Mack Award
Solo Exhibitions
2007 Wilson Gallery, Florida Community College of Jacksonville, FL
2005 Vandroff Gallery, Jewish Community Alliance, Jacksonville, FL
2003Rachel Thompson Gallery, St. Augustine, FL
Rachel Thompson Gallery, St. Augustine, FL2002First Street Gallery, Neptune Beach, FL
First Street Gallery, Neptune Beach, FL Memberships
2007 Master Circle—International Association of Pastel Societies
2004-present Pastel Society of America—Signature Member
2002-present Jacksonville Coalition for the Visual Arts—Director
2001-present Degas Pastel Society (juried member)
2000-present Pastel Society of North Florida
2000-present St Augustine Art Association
(904) 261-2535 5047 First Coast Hwy, Fernandina Beach, FL 32034 e-mail: info@waterwheelgallery.com
