It’s been an interesting ride for Michael Dudash, an award-winning illustrator who, early in is career, occasionally spent nights locked in a cadaver room at the University of Minnesota, as he sketched illustrations for a medical magazine. Those days are long behind him, and today Dudash is a fine artist, who paints everything from portraits and landscapes to still lifes and Western scenes.

C. Michael Dudash (Idaho)

Sheriff, A Deputy, A Day’s Catch
Oil
28″ x 42″
“As with a lot of my work, this painting tells a story by only telling part of the story. The viewer has to participate by filling in the blanks. My desire to create images like this originates from my boyhood love of Western movies and novels and my interest in history. I also love to paint portraits; I never tire of bringing colorful characters to life through paint.”

C. Michael Dudash (Idaho)

She’ll Be Ridin’ Shotgun
Oil
30″ x 20″
“When I choose a subject like this for a painting, I enjoy the opportunity to illustrate several contrary qualities, traits, or emotions. Here we have a tranquil scene, composed of an attractive young lady and a basket of apples, all romantically lit by two lanterns. Yet I have presented another side to the story, one that reveals her underlying strength and toughness. This is illustrated by the shotgun cradled in her arm, as well by as the title of the painting. As she waits in the early dawn for the day’s trip to begin, she appears to be well aware of her upcoming and important responsibility.”