Some artists will spend weeks tediously holed up in their studio, pouring over the same painting, painstakingly attempting to mold it into a perfect gem. This, however, is not the case with Brian Blood. He is much more likely to be found hiking through the sun-kissed Northern Californian coastline, lugging around his painting easel and brushes in pursuit of just the right strip of beach, the perfect jagged rock-laden jetty, or the most picturesque harbor. This plein-air landscape artist thrives on the spontaneity of his work and the thrill of discovering the ever-changing beauty of his surroundings. “Plein-air painting is my biggest inspiration, says Blood. Studio painting is too controlled. Plein-air is unpredictable because so many things can happen, and that spontaneity comes out in the work.”
Blood’s passion for art began at a very young age-in fact, his interest in painting was sparked long before he can even remember. “I’ve always been doing it, says Blood. As a little kid I was always drawing, experimenting, exploring. All kids have a curiosity in art, and I think all kids have artistic talent in them, but often parents discourage their kids’ artistic creativity and push them toward different subjects. But I was told that it was okay to like art.” Blood grew up just outside of Boston, MA with his mother, father, four sisters, and one brother. His father worked for the family’s real estate business, and his mother was a stay-at-home mom. Though he didn’t have any one artistic role model in particular, his first successes in painting nurtured his growing enthusiasm for art.
“When you experience success in something you’re doing, it encourages you to continue doing it. As a kid, I exhibited my work in local shows and art competitions. Then in high school my art department chose me to enter a state art competition. I placed, and that encouraged me and kept me interested.”
Another remnant of Blood’s childhood that inspires his work is his fascination with the sea. He recalls: “I grew up on the east coast, and my father liked buying old boats and fixing them up during the winter. At home, we always had boats to work on. My dad just bought fixer-uppers, tinkered with them all winter, then sold them in the spring. I remember being out in the garage with my dad while he worked on the boats. They were very happy times for me. So when I started painting, the ocean was a familiar scene for me. I would see these old, crusty fishing boats and love them. They have so much character. I could look at a boat like that and imagine all the stories it has to tell, all the voyages it’s seen and adventures it’s encountered. I just feel more at home by the ocean.”
After high school, in the early ’80’s, Brian studied commercial art at the Vesper George School of Art in Boston. During the summers he went to art workshops, one of which was at the Art Institute of Boston. He also attended the Museum School of Boston for two semesters. After graduation, he freelanced for several Boston agencies, which gave him a well-rounded exposure to graphic and commercial arts. However, Blood found the graphic arts profession somewhat less than fulfilling. “It was kind of boring, actually. I was doing layouts for magazines, and other graphic arts stuff, but none of it grabbed me.”
“You have to paint bad paintings before you paint good paintings,” he continues. “You learn from your failures as long as you are honest with yourself.” And in Blood’s estimation, learning to accept criticism, from oneself and others, is the key to growth. He credits his time in the commercial-art arena for the ability to look at his own work with a critical, objective eye and, in effect, to “art direct” himself.
Blood finds inspiration for his paintings in his natural surroundings, both locally and abroad, and he travels regularly with his wife and fellow painter, Laurie Kersey, in search of captivating subject matter. When he settles on potential material, Blood relies on traditional plein-air studies as well as digital photography to initially capture its essence. He maintains, however, that there is no substitute for actual observation, and he has dozens of plein-air sketches on hand at all times. “Witnessing subject matter firsthand is possibly the most important element within the collaboration of reference materials,” says Blood, “because that energy is nearly impossible to re-create in the studio.” And like the Impressionists before him, it is on location, in those trenches, that he gleans the true spirit and intensity of the imagery that called him to it.
Once Blood discovers a place or a scene he connects with, he performs an exhaustive exploration of it. He often paints his most cherished compositions again and again, examining the elements from various perspectives of light, color, and even his own mindset. Rendering the same setting at several times of day is a favorite challenge, as seen in “Moonlight on Signal Hill”, which Blood originally painted in daylight. As he explains it, approaching subjects in this manner always yields something new for him to consider, while also allowing him to expand his mode of expression. He equates his numerous takes on one composition with reworking a recipe in the kitchen to obtain different textures and flavors: “Like a cook, I like to experiment with the ingredients. Each painting tastes different.” Ultimately, Blood sees his work not as a finished product, but as an ongoing process—a visual and creative journey.
As a painter, Blood eschews realism; as a businessman, he embraces it. Experience has taught him that sustenance from the world of fine art depends as much on marketing and visibility as on talent, and to that end, he works daily to make sure his art reaches as many viewers as possible. Preferring to dedicate the lion’s share of his time to working in the studio, the artist has recently pared down his participation in exhibitions and workshops. In turn, he has the time and flexibility to keep his galleries stocked with inventory in a wide array of subject matter.
“I wake up every morning thinking about how I can perpetuate the business side of my art,” he explains, underlining his entrepreneurial spirit. But Blood is by no means a strict pragmatist—he is an inventive mind following his dreams while simultaneously fostering a sense of security. Building his business so vigorously allows him to relax and focus on making the work he loves. And when business flourishes, so, too, does creativity.
In 1983, Blood’s creative and professional tide turned when a friend asked him to design a national newspaper targeted to teenagers. The start-up company was to be based in California-a country away for a young graphic designer who had never left his Boston hometown. In need of a change and a breath of fresh west coast air, Blood left Massachusetts and moved to California to work as a layout artist for his friend’s new business venture-only to discover a brave new world of 16-hour work days and exhausting seven-day work weeks. “I didn’t like it. So I got out. At this point, I was burned out on graphic arts, so instead of going back to Boston I decided to hang out in California and party for the summer. It was my first time being away from where I grew up…and I never went back.” So Blood decided to settle in San Francisco, where he began taking painting classes at the Academy of Art College in San Francisco. When asked what made him leave his reliable career in graphic arts, Blood replied, “I wanted to get away. It’s sort of like a cook working in a fast food place, when he really wants to be a chef.” Blood attained both his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Fine Art at the Academy. He has since taught classes at his alma mater, though he is currently taking time off from teaching.
Blood now dedicates his time to painting, mainly in the Monterey and Point Lobos areas. The scenery in Northern California in particular inspires his creativity, as well as his thrill for discovery. “I’m always growing, expanding, exploring. I must always find new subjects to feed my artistic curiosity. It overall keeps me creatively vibrant.” Though Blood thrives on the diversity of his settings, for instance traveling to Europe to capture the “romantic” feel of the Old World, he insists he doesn’t need to wander far in order to spark that unpredictable element in his paintings. “Northern California is still a favorite. It’s familiar, but I’m always excited to find new places to paint here. There’s a wealth of selection because the terrain and climate are so diverse: mountains, coast, deserts…I don’t have to go across the world. It’s enough inspiration to see the world I live in through an artist’s eyes.” Indeed, it’s not strictly his environment, but more his own unique style that creates that irresistible honesty in his work. “My mood influences my brushwork and expresses a truer reaction to the subject. I enjoy working quickly. My inspiration is like a wild horse…I let it run.”
Blood’s landscapes, as well as his still lifes, are characterized by a romantic, timeless quality that he achieves by using mostly primary brushes and a consistent color palate. He also enjoys painting the same scenes at different times of the day, in order to study the influences of changing light on his subjects. Blood’s mystifying landscapes have earned the People’s Choice Award at Camel for the last consecutive three years, as well as several Awards of Excellence from the Oil Painters of America. Blood also donates a great deal of art to support local charity groups. He has a particular interest in encouraging youth art and would someday like to organize an art program for underprivileged children.
Brian Blood currently lives in Northern California with his wife, Laurie Kersey, who is also a plein-air artist. “It’s great and we’re both very lucky. Because we have similar interests, we spend a lot of time together, taking trips and painting. There’s really no downside-we’re really just starting and we have the confidence of knowing that we’ll be doing this for the rest of our lives. We’re both very ambitious, and as long as we’re creating that spark people are drawn to, we’ll be fine.”
Feature articles about Brian Blood and his work have appeared in such national publications as Southwest Art, Plein Air Magazine, Art of the West, American Artist, and Artist’s Magazine. He is a Signature Member of The Oil Painters of America, The Rocky Mountain Plein Air Painters and The Northern California Painters Group. Brian is also an Artist member of the prestigious California Art Club.
By Brian Blood (Oil on Canvas) 12 x 24 Inches (2015)
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By Brian Blood (Oil on Canvas) 18 x 18 Inches (2015)
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By Brian Blood (Oil on Canvas) 16 x 20 Inches
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By Brian Blood (Oil on Canvas) 16 x 12 Inches
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By Brian Blood (Oil on Canvas) 24 x 20 Inches
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By Brian Blood (Oil on Canvas) 24 x 30 Inches
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By Brian Blood (Oil on Canvas) 24 x 30 Inches
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By Brian Blood (Oil on Canvas) 30 x 24 Inches
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By Brian Blood (Oil on Canvas) 18 x 24 Inches
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By Brian Blood (Oil on Canvas) 24 x 30 Inches
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By Brian Blood (Oil on Canvas) 11 x 14 Inches
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By Brian Blood (Oil on Canvas) 12 x 24 Inches (2015)
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By Brian Blood (Oil on Canvas) 11 x 14 Inches
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By Brian Blood (Oil on Canvas) 11 x 14 Inches
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By Brian Blood (Oil on Canvas) 16 x 20 Inches (2007)
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By Brian Blood (Oil on Canvas) 20 x 24 Inches
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By Brian Blood (Oil on Canvas) 36 x 30 Inches
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By Brian Blood (Oil on Canvas) 12 x 16 Inches
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Vestibulum pulvinar risus at nisl consectetur, vel dapibus lacus euismod. In vitae orci non urna venenatis posuere. Maecenas et fermentum turpis. Suspendisse in nunc sem. Morbi dapibus sem nec mi accumsan, et tincidunt nisl pellentesque. Suspendisse sed nulla a est cursus consequat. Curabitur elementum orci ut ligula dignissim, in egestas purus vestibulum. Nam ac tempor metus. Fusce id tempus libero. Donec nec ipsum ornare, mattis est at, placerat est. Orci varius natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Nam elit lorem, egestas quis volutpat a, tincidunt id metus. Maecenas at ante risus. Quisque euismod turpis erat, non sodales tellus venenatis id. Aliquam iaculis nibh justo, ut eleifend eros pulvinar interdum. In hac habitasse platea dictumst.
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By Brian Blood (Oil on Canvas) 24 x 36 Inches (2015)
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Vestibulum pulvinar risus at nisl consectetur, vel dapibus lacus euismod. In vitae orci non urna venenatis posuere. Maecenas et fermentum turpis. Suspendisse in nunc sem. Morbi dapibus sem nec mi accumsan, et tincidunt nisl pellentesque. Suspendisse sed nulla a est cursus consequat. Curabitur elementum orci ut ligula dignissim, in egestas purus vestibulum. Nam ac tempor metus. Fusce id tempus libero. Donec nec ipsum ornare, mattis est at, placerat est. Orci varius natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Nam elit lorem, egestas quis volutpat a, tincidunt id metus. Maecenas at ante risus. Quisque euismod turpis erat, non sodales tellus venenatis id. Aliquam iaculis nibh justo, ut eleifend eros pulvinar interdum. In hac habitasse platea dictumst.
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By Brian Blood (Oil on Canvas) 18 x 24 Inches (2007)
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Vestibulum pulvinar risus at nisl consectetur, vel dapibus lacus euismod. In vitae orci non urna venenatis posuere. Maecenas et fermentum turpis. Suspendisse in nunc sem. Morbi dapibus sem nec mi accumsan, et tincidunt nisl pellentesque. Suspendisse sed nulla a est cursus consequat. Curabitur elementum orci ut ligula dignissim, in egestas purus vestibulum. Nam ac tempor metus. Fusce id tempus libero. Donec nec ipsum ornare, mattis est at, placerat est. Orci varius natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Nam elit lorem, egestas quis volutpat a, tincidunt id metus. Maecenas at ante risus. Quisque euismod turpis erat, non sodales tellus venenatis id. Aliquam iaculis nibh justo, ut eleifend eros pulvinar interdum. In hac habitasse platea dictumst.
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By Brian Blood (Oil on Canvas) 30 x 24 Inches (2010)
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Vestibulum pulvinar risus at nisl consectetur, vel dapibus lacus euismod. In vitae orci non urna venenatis posuere. Maecenas et fermentum turpis. Suspendisse in nunc sem. Morbi dapibus sem nec mi accumsan, et tincidunt nisl pellentesque. Suspendisse sed nulla a est cursus consequat. Curabitur elementum orci ut ligula dignissim, in egestas purus vestibulum. Nam ac tempor metus. Fusce id tempus libero. Donec nec ipsum ornare, mattis est at, placerat est. Orci varius natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Nam elit lorem, egestas quis volutpat a, tincidunt id metus. Maecenas at ante risus. Quisque euismod turpis erat, non sodales tellus venenatis id. Aliquam iaculis nibh justo, ut eleifend eros pulvinar interdum. In hac habitasse platea dictumst.
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By Brian Blood (Oil on Canvas) 24 x 30 Inches (2015)
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Vestibulum pulvinar risus at nisl consectetur, vel dapibus lacus euismod. In vitae orci non urna venenatis posuere. Maecenas et fermentum turpis. Suspendisse in nunc sem. Morbi dapibus sem nec mi accumsan, et tincidunt nisl pellentesque. Suspendisse sed nulla a est cursus consequat. Curabitur elementum orci ut ligula dignissim, in egestas purus vestibulum. Nam ac tempor metus. Fusce id tempus libero. Donec nec ipsum ornare, mattis est at, placerat est. Orci varius natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Nam elit lorem, egestas quis volutpat a, tincidunt id metus. Maecenas at ante risus. Quisque euismod turpis erat, non sodales tellus venenatis id. Aliquam iaculis nibh justo, ut eleifend eros pulvinar interdum. In hac habitasse platea dictumst.
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By Brian Blood (Oil on Canvas) 24 x 30 Inches (2010)
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Vestibulum pulvinar risus at nisl consectetur, vel dapibus lacus euismod. In vitae orci non urna venenatis posuere. Maecenas et fermentum turpis. Suspendisse in nunc sem. Morbi dapibus sem nec mi accumsan, et tincidunt nisl pellentesque. Suspendisse sed nulla a est cursus consequat. Curabitur elementum orci ut ligula dignissim, in egestas purus vestibulum. Nam ac tempor metus. Fusce id tempus libero. Donec nec ipsum ornare, mattis est at, placerat est. Orci varius natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Nam elit lorem, egestas quis volutpat a, tincidunt id metus. Maecenas at ante risus. Quisque euismod turpis erat, non sodales tellus venenatis id. Aliquam iaculis nibh justo, ut eleifend eros pulvinar interdum. In hac habitasse platea dictumst.
Interested in this piece? Please click the button below to email us about this piece.
By Brian Blood (Oil on Canvas) 24 x 30 Inches (2010)
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Vestibulum pulvinar risus at nisl consectetur, vel dapibus lacus euismod. In vitae orci non urna venenatis posuere. Maecenas et fermentum turpis. Suspendisse in nunc sem. Morbi dapibus sem nec mi accumsan, et tincidunt nisl pellentesque. Suspendisse sed nulla a est cursus consequat. Curabitur elementum orci ut ligula dignissim, in egestas purus vestibulum. Nam ac tempor metus. Fusce id tempus libero. Donec nec ipsum ornare, mattis est at, placerat est. Orci varius natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Nam elit lorem, egestas quis volutpat a, tincidunt id metus. Maecenas at ante risus. Quisque euismod turpis erat, non sodales tellus venenatis id. Aliquam iaculis nibh justo, ut eleifend eros pulvinar interdum. In hac habitasse platea dictumst.
Interested in this piece? Please click the button below to email us about this piece.
By Brian Blood (Oil on Canvas) 24 x 20 Inches
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Vestibulum pulvinar risus at nisl consectetur, vel dapibus lacus euismod. In vitae orci non urna venenatis posuere. Maecenas et fermentum turpis. Suspendisse in nunc sem. Morbi dapibus sem nec mi accumsan, et tincidunt nisl pellentesque. Suspendisse sed nulla a est cursus consequat. Curabitur elementum orci ut ligula dignissim, in egestas purus vestibulum. Nam ac tempor metus. Fusce id tempus libero. Donec nec ipsum ornare, mattis est at, placerat est. Orci varius natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Nam elit lorem, egestas quis volutpat a, tincidunt id metus. Maecenas at ante risus. Quisque euismod turpis erat, non sodales tellus venenatis id. Aliquam iaculis nibh justo, ut eleifend eros pulvinar interdum. In hac habitasse platea dictumst.
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By Brian Blood (Oil on Canvas) 16 x 20 Inches (2008)
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Vestibulum pulvinar risus at nisl consectetur, vel dapibus lacus euismod. In vitae orci non urna venenatis posuere. Maecenas et fermentum turpis. Suspendisse in nunc sem. Morbi dapibus sem nec mi accumsan, et tincidunt nisl pellentesque. Suspendisse sed nulla a est cursus consequat. Curabitur elementum orci ut ligula dignissim, in egestas purus vestibulum. Nam ac tempor metus. Fusce id tempus libero. Donec nec ipsum ornare, mattis est at, placerat est. Orci varius natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Nam elit lorem, egestas quis volutpat a, tincidunt id metus. Maecenas at ante risus. Quisque euismod turpis erat, non sodales tellus venenatis id. Aliquam iaculis nibh justo, ut eleifend eros pulvinar interdum. In hac habitasse platea dictumst.
Interested in this piece? Please click the button below to email us about this piece.
By Brian Blood (Oil on Canvas) 11 x 14 Inches
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Vestibulum pulvinar risus at nisl consectetur, vel dapibus lacus euismod. In vitae orci non urna venenatis posuere. Maecenas et fermentum turpis. Suspendisse in nunc sem. Morbi dapibus sem nec mi accumsan, et tincidunt nisl pellentesque. Suspendisse sed nulla a est cursus consequat. Curabitur elementum orci ut ligula dignissim, in egestas purus vestibulum. Nam ac tempor metus. Fusce id tempus libero. Donec nec ipsum ornare, mattis est at, placerat est. Orci varius natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Nam elit lorem, egestas quis volutpat a, tincidunt id metus. Maecenas at ante risus. Quisque euismod turpis erat, non sodales tellus venenatis id. Aliquam iaculis nibh justo, ut eleifend eros pulvinar interdum. In hac habitasse platea dictumst.
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Brian Blood explores the flavors and textures of the landscape
an article that apeared in the March 2015 issue of “Southwest Art Magazine”
“I paint imagery that captures my attention and inspires me.” It’s as simple as that for California painter Brian Blood, whose landscapes, seascapes, and urban vignettes present an exploration and exhibition of the picturesque. And after three decades of working as a fine artist, he has the process down to near science. His meticulously constructed methodology consists of reconnaissance, observation, contemplation, and application. All of this serves him well in conducting informed and astutely conceived studies in beauty.
However, Blood doesn’t stop at simply painting a beautiful scene—he continues to mine its elements and experiment with technique, always striving to elicit the extraordinary from the everyday. “I like the challenge of making average scenes compelling,” says the artist. Indeed, his pictures present familiar subject matter made dynamic, even flirtatious, as it passes through his artistic lens. Blood’s canvases are at once placid and stimulating, consisting of loosely painted forms within a formal composition. He mingles these seemingly disparate pieces until they work in concert to produce a distinct aura, or mood, indicative of their environment.
A self-described “modern impressionist,” Blood focuses on the “shorthand” of what he observes. He paints intuitively, not seeking to reproduce but to refocus the elements in a balance of shape, color, and perspective. And though his work conveys that intangible essence of place, it also remains grounded in strong lines and tight spatial relationships. Each painting is deliberately composed, each color palette “squeezed” into just the right range. Formerly a graphic artist, Blood employs a strong sense of design across his compositions, anchoring the structural facets inside an otherwise visually malleable setting. Thus his compositions merge the thoughtful organization of a designer with the spontaneous brush strokes of an impressionist, deftly squaring the cerebral with the intuitive.
Late Afternoon on “Filbert St. Dsn Francisco” exemplifies this type of mood-based scene construction. Geographically specific, but universally appealing in its limited detail, the bustling urban vista has been transformed into a collection of soft, organic narratives. Architectural forms further quiet the composition, lending an air of stability and restraint. And, as in all of Blood’s work, natural light defines the individuality of place, even as it unites the diverse visual components.
In fact, light in all its iterations acts as perhaps the most significant and stirring element in Blood’s artwork. It serves not only to unify each scene’s parts, but also to provide illumination and drama, and to define the mood that the artist seeks to convey. In his Point Lobos series, cypress trees glow under a radiant sun as they zigzag through the space, negotiating the soaring sky, undulant ocean, and steady earth. Here, the light enlivens the space. Conversely, the nocturne “Moonlight on Signal Hill” portrays the cool, heady radiance of the moon’s aura. The ethereal luminescence creates quiet tension between the lit path and surrounding darkness. Here, the light reveals and subdues.
Blood’s fine-art career began in the late 1980s, after he had established himself as an illustrator and graphic designer. Though he had loved drawing and painting since childhood, fine art as a career path simply wasn’t “on the radar” when he was growing up. To that end, after graduating from high school, Blood entered Boston’s now-shuttered Vesper George School of Art on a commercial track, studying illustration and graphic design. After working for a number of years in the production departments of advertising agencies and newspapers, Blood found that line of work too restrictive and void of the opportunities for creative expression that he craved. So he made the life-altering decision to leave his native East Coast.
At the behest of a friend and colleague in San Francisco, Blood left his job and traveled out west to help launch a small newspaper. Of such a drastic move, he coolly remarks, “You just have to take chances.” His daring move worked in his favor, and after the newspaper project ended, Blood decided to put down roots in California. He eventually enrolled in the Academy of Art University, first in the illustration program and later as a fine-art major. After earning his degree there, he went on to teach at the Academy for more than 10 years.
At home and creatively fulfilled in California, Blood finally began to realize his destiny as a full-time painter. “Being the captain of my own ship was something I enjoyed, and still enjoy,” he says. Today, he maintains two studios and is represented by four galleries across California and one in Salt Lake City.
When chronicling his career, Blood speaks often of tenacity—the trait has served him well as he has become a nationally acclaimed, award-winning oil painter. “Persistence and commitment will definitely benefit you,” he says of his artistic path, which has been marked by disappointments as well as successes. He has, however, gained insight from both, learning to accept the losses for the lessons they can teach. The artist is quick to share his hard-earned knowledge, offering words of wisdom to up-and-coming artists. “Paint what you like, explore new ways of expression.… Don’t be afraid to try new things,” he says. “Put as much time and effort as you can into your work. Put in the mileage it takes for the transformation to happen.
Blood was recently honored as an Outstanding Alumnus and awarded an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters by the San Francisco Academy of Art University.
Carmel Art Festival, Best Local Artist Award 2008
Carmel Art Festival, Artist’s Choice Award, 2008
Carmel Art Festival, People’s Choice Award 2008
Carmel Art Festival, Best of Show 2006
Museum of Art and History, People’s Choice Awards 2006
Founder’s Award of Excellence – Eiteljorg Museum, Indianapolis, IN 2006
People’s Choice Award – Napa Valley Museum 2005
Mayor’s Choice Award – Carmel Art Festival 2005
Napa Valley Museum People’s Choice Award, 2005
Award of Excellence – Oil Painters of America Regional Exhibition 2005
Best of Show – San Louis Obispo Plein Air Painting Exhibition 2004
People’s Choice and Artist’s Choice Awards – Carmel Art Festival 2004
Jack Richardson Award of Excellence – Oil Painters of America 2004