1994
Interview with Stephen Gjertson
Interview with Stephen Gjertson
This video features an interview with Classical Realist painter, Stephen Gjertson, who is joined by his wife, Patricia Gjertson. The interview is conducted by Canadian/American artist, educator, and producer, Clarice Chris Matteson (1918-2012) for a Public Service Program called Accent on Art, which she created and hosted. The interview took place in Bloomington, Minnesota on February 24, 1994.
In the early 1970s, Stephen was part of the first cohesive group of students to be trained in Richard Lack’s studio school, Atelier Lack, where he learned the rudiments necessary to create paintings from nature and the imagination. This body of knowledge stems from an artistic tradition that can be traced from Mr. Lack’s teacher, Boston artist R.H. Ives Gammell, to the atelier of 19th century French artist, Jean-Léon Gérôme at the École des Beaux-Arts.
While studying at Atelier Lack, Stephen began teaching there, a role which he held for fifteen years. He also taught students at Atelier LeSueur and The Bougie Studio (two Minnesota studio-schools that were established by former students of Richard Lack, Annette LeSueur and Peter Bougie). Through his association with Richard Lack, Stephen has written two biographies of his teacher’s life. He also contributed articles and essays to periodicals published by The American Society of Classical Realism (The ASCR). He has painted professionally for forty-five years, and his work includes most of the genres that are part of the western artistic tradition. Stephen currently resides in Minneapolis where he lives with his wife, Patricia. They have four children and six grandchildren who have modelled for many of Stephen’s drawings and paintings.
Stephen’s website: www.stephengjertsongalleries.com
Stephen's email: [email protected]
In the early 1970s, Stephen was part of the first cohesive group of students to be trained in Richard Lack’s studio school, Atelier Lack, where he learned the rudiments necessary to create paintings from nature and the imagination. This body of knowledge stems from an artistic tradition that can be traced from Mr. Lack’s teacher, Boston artist R.H. Ives Gammell, to the atelier of 19th century French artist, Jean-Léon Gérôme at the École des Beaux-Arts.
While studying at Atelier Lack, Stephen began teaching there, a role which he held for fifteen years. He also taught students at Atelier LeSueur and The Bougie Studio (two Minnesota studio-schools that were established by former students of Richard Lack, Annette LeSueur and Peter Bougie). Through his association with Richard Lack, Stephen has written two biographies of his teacher’s life. He also contributed articles and essays to periodicals published by The American Society of Classical Realism (The ASCR). He has painted professionally for forty-five years, and his work includes most of the genres that are part of the western artistic tradition. Stephen currently resides in Minneapolis where he lives with his wife, Patricia. They have four children and six grandchildren who have modelled for many of Stephen’s drawings and paintings.
Stephen’s website: www.stephengjertsongalleries.com
Stephen's email: [email protected]