Trent Gudmundsen (OPA, NOAPS) grew up in a small Utah farming community where he began oil painting at the age of 14. His artistic and musically inclined parents always supported his love of art. He was also lucky enough to live near several local professional artists who provided both inspiration and encouragement. Trent later attended college on an art scholarship, but the artist frequently found himself painting in the nearby fields and canyons instead of attending his classes. Trent left school to forge his own artistic path and soon thereafter moved to Colorado where he met and married Lorajean (also an artist). That same year, Southwest Art magazine recognized Trent's potential in their annual "21 Under 31" article. (Later, the magazine would feature Trent in a 6-page feature). Trent's work has now been recognized with top awards on a national level including at the American Impressionist Society National Exhibition (NY, NY. 2019), two Oil Painters of America National Exhibitions (2003 & 2009), and the National Oil & Acrylic Painters Society's "Best of America" Exhibit (2019). Inspired largely by European and Soviet impressionists and realists, Gudmundsen's paintings are traditional in subject and quality but painted in what amounts to be a very contemporary approach, often simplifying parts of the painting down to just graphic blocks of color, and other times by subduing and "de-constructing" the backgrounds or subjects until they become almost dreamlike in quality. Gudmundsen seeks in his work to be ever-more accurate in drawing and lighting, while also tantalizing the viewer with interesting brushwork and edges. Trent and Lorajean and their 6 children now live on a small farm in Idaho in a concrete farmhouse that Trent built with his own hands. His art studio is attached to the back of the house, with a door that's always open to the family. * Associate member, American Impressionist Society. * Signature member, Oil Painters of America.* Signature member, National Oil & Acrylic Painters Society