David Riedel is an American painter born in Indiana in 1956.
“The starting point is when objects interact with light, shape, and color to form a larger dynamic.”
He studied art at Northern Arizona University, graduating with a BFA in printmaking in 1982, and later attended the Art Students League in New York City, where he studied under David Leffel. His work is characterized by chiaroscuro, dramatic lighting, and deep background color, reflecting the influence of the Old Masters. He won first place at the Oil Painters of America National Show in 2009 and has received awards from the OPA western region and the Greenhouse Salon. He now lives in Portland, Oregon, where he explores landscape painting and the Northwest outdoors.
David Riedel at a glance
- Born: 1956, Indiana
- Nationality: American
- Known for: Still lifes with dramatic light and deep backgrounds
- Medium: Oil painting
- Education: BFA in printmaking, Northern Arizona University (1982)
- Trained with: David Leffel at the Art Students League, New York City
- Based in: Portland, Oregon
- Award: First place, Oil Painters of America National Show (2009)
- Born in Indiana in 1956.
- BFA in printmaking from Northern Arizona University.
- Studied at the Art Students League in New York City.
- Won OPA National Show first place in 2009.
- Now lives in Portland, exploring landscape painting.
His still lifes are composed of objects that are individually beautiful, but the focus is on how they interact with light, shape, and color.
He enjoys creating a sense of depth and contrast, balancing elements to build movement into the painting. His use of texture and rhythmic color adds a timeless quality to his work. He considers his primary instruction to be from David Leffel.
His paintings are held in collections across the United States. He continues to draw inspiration from the New Mexico landscape and the Pacific Northwest.
“I enjoy creating a sense of depth and contrast where I can explore ways to balance the different elements and build a sense of movement into the painting.”
