"In the end, I strive to instill a sense of presence and mystery in my work."
Carl Oltvedt works full-time as an artist in a variety of painting and drawing media. He retired from Minnesota State University Moorhead in May of 2015, where he was a Professor in the School of Visual Arts. He has exhibited his work at Groveland Gallery in Minneapolis since 1978. His paintings and drawings are included in numerous public, corporate, and private collections. He has completed commissions for corporations and private collectors including Cargill Corporation, Minnesota Mutual, Securian Corporation, Microsoft, and the Laske family. He was a recipient of Minnesota State Arts Board Artist Initiative Grants in 2014 and 1991, and a Lake Region Arts Council/McKnight Artist Fellowship in 2002.
Artist Statement:
My principal interests during the past two years have been the rugged landscape on the North Shore of Lake Superior, the mixed conifer and deciduous forest surrounding Mantrap Lake near Nevis, MN and the Mississippi River environment near Crosby Lake in St. Paul; the latter has led my work in a new direction with the introduction of egrets and herons into my compositions. My working process includes studies done on location and further work completed in the studio from my photographic documentation of subject material. This may take days, weeks or years to work through. In the end, I strive to instill a sense of presence and mystery in my work.
Carl Oltvedt’s website: carloltvedt.com
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Image of the artist courtesy of Valerie Jardin