Vermont-born artist Brian Jude Reardon creates figurative oil paintings that blend precise draftsmanship with the nostalgic charm of New England landscapes and vintage industrial design. “I’m attracted to objects I’m fond of—things that make me happy,” he says. “Often they evoke shared memories, whether it’s a VW Bug, a well-worn tractor, or a postwar microcar.”Raised in a family with eight siblings, Brian found early encouragement for his creative pursuits. He studied painting and drawing at the Art Institute of Philadelphia before earning his BFA from the Rhode Island School of Design in 1988. For more than 25 years, he worked in educational publishing, sharpening his eye for design while continuing to paint. Now based just outside Boston, he often travels Vermont’s back roads in search of inspiration—classic tractor paintings, vintage car portraits, and Airstream trailer scenes that connect to both personal history and a shared cultural memory.Brian’s influences range from Winslow Homer and Wayne Thiebaud to Jenny Saville, Lucian Freud, George Bellows, Antonio López, John Singer Sargent, Velázquez, Degas, and the Group of Seven. His process begins with drawings from life or life-size photographic studies, followed by small color sketches to test tone and palette. Once the composition is set, he transfers it to canvas, creates an underpainting, and applies layers of color “with as much energy as the original impulse in creating the work.”His nostalgic Americana art is held in private collections across New England, offering a bridge between the timeless appeal of rural industry and the joy of following one’s creative calling. Learn more about Brian Jude Reardon on Radio Maine.