Michael Albrechtsen was born in Bountiful, Utah in 1962. He grew up in Utah playing baseball, ice hockey, and all kinds of sports and when he wasn't kicking or throwing a ball around, he was drawing. His mother tried to convince him to take an art class. At age 10 he finally agreed, but wanted to go outside with his friends playing ball, instead of being surrounded by students much older. His next attempt at an art class was in high school. Discouraged by his teacher and a D grade, he quit the class, but still continued to draw every chance he got.

Michael completed three years of technical drafting in the engineering program at Weber State University in Ogden, Utah, before he realized his true interest was fine art. With the support of his wife Lynda, he started over in the art program at Utah State University in Logan, Utah, at the age of 26. He picked up a paintbrush for the first time in 1989. Being one of the oldest students in his classes and feeling so far behind gave him the drive to work hard. Between long studio classes and home assignments, he also worked as a freelance artist to help support his growing family.

Soon after finishing a Master of Fine Arts degree at USU in 1994, Michael was recruited as a greeting card artist by Hallmark Cards in Kansas City, Missouri. Michael says working for Hallmark teaches him discipline, and that the move to Kansas has exposed him to a completely different area of the country, which has in turn affected his artwork. Weeknights at home, his three daughters Cassie, Marissa, and Lindsay sit beside their father in his studio while he paints. He explains, "They have their own little kids' easels and art supplies. They work quietly on their own paintings, creating their own masterpieces. Having my family close is the most important thing to me, and involving them in art brings us all closer together."

When describing Michael's work, a fellow artist said: "He uses his keen sense of color to set mood; his paintings appear to have pure, glowing light, as though they are drenched in sunlight, without appearing forced or artificial. He has an expressive storytelling ability. Michael knows what to leave in, and what to take out; he pays attention to detail without becoming stagnant. Another thing is, he never seems to struggle. When he starts painting, he is confident, and doesn't waver as he puts down marks. From the beginning, he is aware of what he is doing. He has worked from life so much, I think that has given him assurance that he will be able to put down what he wants. Even so, he is never totally satisfied, and always keeps pushing himself."

Michael's own words summarize his goals: "I want to be able to paint everything equally well-landscapes, figures, animals and still life's. I want to transfer whatever I see that moves me, to my canvas. The greatest thing about being an artist is the opportunity to convey my feelings about a subject. My greatest reward is when someone viewing my artwork feels the same."

Source:
Kent Whipple, Art Professional, Santa Fe, New Mexico

Born and raised in Bountiful, Utah, Michael Albrechtsen is a painter whose vivid, atmospheric landscapes reflect his Mormon heritage of respecting the order, serenity, and inspirational value of nature--of "bringing out some of the beauty God has created". He credits Richard Schmid as being one of his greatest influences but did not begin painting until 1989 and has had little time to be a totally dedicated fine artist. In 1997, he won two awards in the Arts For the Parks competition.

He showed early art talent and was encouraged by his mother who enrolled him in summer art classes. He studied biology at the University of Utah but disliked the math so he dropped out and served two years as a Mormon missionary in Thailand. He began painting landscape scenes there, and after returning to the United States, worked in a sign shop and took technical drafting at Weber State University in Ogden.

He married and then earned a Master of Fine Arts degree from Utah State University. He began his art career as a book illustrator followed by a job with Hallmark Cards in Kansas City, Missouri. He is a resident of Olathe, Kansas.

Source:
Bill Macomber, "Art & Belief: The Utah School", Art-Talk, 11/98

Michael Albrechtsen may have started his fine art career a little later than a lot of artists, but he has dramatically made up for lost time. His decision to make art a career move came in 1989 and his decision to leave the corporate world behind and make a commitment to his love of fine art came a few years later, and he's never looked back. Inspired by his joy of the outdoors and by the encouragement of his family, he now shares that joy with others by portraying what inspires him on canvas.

Born in Bountiful, Utah at the foot of the Wasatch Mountains, Michael developed a strong interest and connection with the out of doors at an early age. Today, as an artist, you can still see that connection with nature in his paintings. With strong compositions and a natural sense for color and atmosphere, Michael blends technical skill and sensitivity to nature in his landscapes. "Painting is a way for me to express my emotions for God's creations."

Michael received a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Utah State University in 1992 and continued his education to receive a Masters of Fine Art in 1994.

Michael has been featured in several articles in leading art publications such as Southwest Art, Art of the West, Wildlife Art and Art Talk Magazines. He has participated in many prestigious exhibitions, including International Masters of Fine Art Invitational Showcase, Oil Painters of America, C.M.Russell Museum Exhibitions, and the Great American West Exhibition at Settler's West Gallery.

He has received numerous awards including, Grand Teton National History Association Award: Art for the Parks; Judges Award of Merit: Art of the Parks; Critic's Award: Rocky Mountain Invitational; People's Choice Award: Rocky Mountain Invitational; Artists' Choice Award: Arts of the Animal Kingdom; Robert H. Blattner Award: Society of Illustrators.

Michael is presently (2007) teaching at Scottsdale Artist School, Scottsdale, AZ; Fredricksburg Artist School, Fredricksburg, TX; and Paint Utah Artist School, Logan, UT.

Exhibitions:
The International Masters of Fine Art Invitational Showcase at the International Museum of Contemporary Masters of Fine Art.

The Sixth Annual International Art competition, Museum of Church History, Salt Lake City, UT.

Artists of the New Century, Bennington Center for the Arts

Education:
Utah State University earning a BFA and MFA

MICHAEL ALBRECHTSEN

Michael Albrechtsen may have started his fine art career a little later than a lot of artists, but he has dramatically made up for lost time. His decision to make art a career move came in 1989 and his decision to leave the corporate world behind and make a commitment to his love of fine art came a few years later and he's never looked back. Inspired by his joy of the outdoors and by the encouragement of his family, he now shares that joy with others by portraying what inspires him on canvas. Born in bountiful Utah at the foot of the Wasatch Mountains, Michael developed a strong interest and connection with the out of doors at an early age. Today, as an artist, you can still see that connection with nature in his paintings. With strong compositions and a natural sense for color and atmosphere, Michael blends technical skill and sensitivity to nature in his landscapes.

Michael didn't have a serious interest in art until he discovered drawing while on a mission trip in Thailand for his church. Shortly, thereafter, he started studying technical drafting and eventually wound up studying painting at the University of Utah. While at school he discovered that there wasn't a particular formula to painting, but that through hard work you develop a sense for color, composition and atmosphere. After spending five years at Hallmark Cards, Inc., he began painting full time.

Before Michael began painting full time, he sketched and photographed while he hiked. Now he paints from his sketches and photographs. He travels to gather reference and to paint from life. His focus is to paint light, not necessarily a specific subject. He tries hard to compose the objects, using color and value, in a way that will move your eye around the painting, making one object the center of focus without being too obvious.

"I paint in oil because I like the rich colors and how forgiving it is," says Albrechtsen. "I love the way the light affects things. The light changes throughout the day, changing its effect on objects. The time of year, the temperature, or the area of the country all play a part in the way the light changes. I try to take days off from painting and it just doesn't work. Painting is a way for me to express my emotions for what I see around me. Whether or not I am able to sell anything is secondary. I would still have to paint."

SELECTED EXHIBITIONS & AWARDS
Arts For the Parks Exhibition, Jackson Hole, WY - Top 100, Jurors Choice Award
Rocky Mountain Invitational, Park City, UT - People's Choice Award, Critic's Award
Bennington Center for the Arts Animal Kingdom Exhibition, Bennington, VT - Artist Choice Award
Oil Painters of America, TX
The Great American West Show, Settler's West Gallery, Tucson, AZ
American Miniatures, Settler's West Gallery, Tucson, AZ