A brief intro Recent Award Winner of The Weatherburn Gallery Award of Excellence for best lanscape at The Oil Painters of America Eastern Regional Show 2007

                                                                 Me before a demonstration

 Born 1962
Karl  David Heerdt was born in Western New York and has always called the area home.
For more than twenty years he had been a cabinet maker and had designed and built homes locally. During this time Karl became aware of and began to nurture the artist that was always a part of him, and  has successfully shifted his professional focus to creating fine works of art. He specializes in engaging and dynamic landscapes from around the country , compelling still lifes , figurative paintings and sculpture. Karl is an associate member of Oil Painters of America and his work can be found in private and corporate collections throughout the United States, Canada and Europe. 

     Karl is represented by Meibohm Fine Arts in East Aurora New York, the  Oxford Gallery in Rochester New York, the Cooley Gallery in Old Lyme CT, Planet Bronze Art Gallery in Bozeman MT , and Common Ground Art Gallery in Red Lodge MT






ARTIST STATEMENT


" Painting is a lifelong learning process."

Being self taught,I find inspiration from the great masters of the past.Their knowledge of materials and techniques , as well as their commitment to excellence , is awe inspiring.I am always striving to improve,and I find that the more I learn, the more demanding that painting becomes. It takes a good deal of concentration to paint at a level that that gives me the results that I am seeking. Frequently in the studio when I am painting an image that I am really excited about , I enter into a state of mind in which I can mentally visualize myself at the site which I am trying to portray . I can almost feel the sun, smell the air,and hear the sounds that I experienced on location. When I paint in this frame of mind,time seems to have no meaning. An hour could pass as though it were only a few minutes, and the paintings seem to take on a life of their own.

While out on location, I find myself in awe of the beauty of God's creation. Any time spent outdoors , taking in the ever changing views , which are endless in their complexities and hidden mysteries , fill me with emotion.
This is why I must paint. It is a direct response to the emotions that I feel when experiencing the beauty of a particular location . I know of no better and more enjoyable way to process and express these feelings . I hope that viewers of my paintings will receive the same pleasure in seeing and getting lost in them, as I did while creating them.