Trudy Reynolds is a native Oregonian, born in North Bend and raised in rural Oregon. The first six years of her life were spent in Elkton, a town halfway between the Pacific Ocean and Umpqua Valleys. Early summer days were spent in the northern Willamette valley town of Molalla on her grandmother’s farm. Later, her grandfather Wm Esselstrom, purchased a registered Quarter Horse mare for his granddaughter to ride on their five-hundred-acre ranch where she made many happy memories of riding and sketching her surroundings.

 

After raising a husband, two sons, and working in law enforcement for 27 years; specifically, 13 years on patrol and 10 years as a homicide/person’s crime detective, Trudy retired to pursue her ambition to paint.

 

Her art education has taken place through local Douglas County public schools, and Colorado State University for Police Composite Sketching/Facial Reconstruction. She has had the pleasure of attending workshops instructed by artists such as: Foster Caddell, Susan Ogilvie, Anita Wolff, Lorenzo Chavez, Frank Federico, Lora Block, Richard McKinley, Clive Tyler, Willo Balfrey, Dawn Emerson, Mike Beeman, Barbara Benedetti-Newton, Willo Balfrey, and Robert Gamblin.

 

Trudy was a featured artist in the Palace Gallery in Oakland, OR, until it was closed down by the owners who relocated. Her work sold well at that location.

 

Currently, Trudy does commissioned paintings. The most recent solo exhibit was in 2016 at Seven Feather’s Gallery 7. Prior to that, Trudy shared an exhibit with Lora Block at the Umpqua Valley Arts Center in Roseburg, OR, in the Red Room.

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ART PROCESS

I prefer painting animals, horses, cats, dogs, and a few landscapes.

 

I use UART and Pastel Premier Paper that is glued down to PH balanced matte board for stability. I cut the paper to the size that I want to use. Sometimes I put a color wash on the paper. I draw the subject I am painting right on the paper. I use about every brand of pastels that are available. I work dark to light and found that a small amount of light works well in the paintings. I use colors that I see in the reflection from the articles and items around the subject I am painting. I use photographs and groups of photographs to draw my picture. If on a commissioned painting, I prefer to photograph the subject myself as this allows me to connect with the subject. I will almost complete the painting and then let it sit for a day or two and then return to the painting process. I then photograph the painting to determine if it will be balanced. After completing the painting, I frame the work myself.

 

My current work is smaller in size, the frames are darker, being black or espresso in color, no matting, and using Museum or Art Glass. I have recently gone to placing the glass directly onto the painting and sealing with clear framing tape. I have been doing most of my own framing for quite some time now and purchase my frames from Silver Leaf Framing and mail order art stores. I do not want the frame to detract from the painting.