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Biography

Painting and art have been an essential part of my entire life. Some of my earliest memories include standing at the corner of my father's easel under the glare of the clamp light and watching him paint images of cowboys and wildlife.

From childhood through graduate school I have studied painting, art history, and art education. I began teaching art thinking of myself as an artist who teaches. Fortunately I learned enough from my students to understand that teaching art is an art form in itself. I love sharing art with my students each day and I find it enriches my own identity as a painter. I just need more hours in the day to inspire the pursuit of art and actually pursue it myself.

Although I dabble as a plein air painter, I primarily work in my studio where I channel my life-long connection with horses into painting their form and distinctive gesture. I am often questioned about my singular focus on horses and I have sincerely experimented with other subjects, but the horse as a figurative subject is my inherent and true muse. Perhaps it all goes back to my first horse “Syrup,” a stocky little bay mare with a pretty-shaped head: I loved to just look at her as much as I loved to ride her. (Which is a good thing considering our rodeo days running barrels can be summed up with her name.)

Currently I paint, teach, and live in Loveland, Colorado with fellow artist, Ed Darchuk.

Ed Darchuk    www.eddarchuk.com
Rudl Mergelman    www.westernandwildlifeart.net/