Ralph Oberg
ALL WORKS
BIOGRAPHY

The wild mountain country has always been close to Ralph Oberg’s heart. An avid mountaineer and wilderness backpacker, he has traveled extensively in the back country of the Western states in search of the pristine landscape and the wildlife that live there. His art career has always focused on his love for the untrammeled country.
Ralph Oberg was born in 1950 and raised in Colorado where he spent much of his youth hiking and climbing in the mountain wilderness. A career in art was obvious at an early age. Two years at Colorado State University on an Art Scholarship, vocational training and a brief stint in commercial illustration preceded the 1974 beginning of his art career. After over 10 years of growing success in the Wildlife Art genre he became dissatisfied with his photographic approach and in 1987 began to study with many of the great western plein air landscape painters of today. Ralph and his wife, artist Shirley Novak, now travel extensively in order to paint on location the wild and roadside scenes they love. Upon returning to their Montrose home and studio they produce larger works using these outdoor paintings as reference material.
Raised in Colorado, the young man always knew he would be an artist. The freedom to move about and enjoy the wonders of the world fit his temperament. After a brief stint in commercial illustration Ralph began to support himself with his paintings. Wildlife dominated his interest for over 10 years. Repeated appearances at the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Museum’s “Birds in Art” show in the early 80’s and election to the Society of Animal Artists were high points in his young career. The works of Rungius, Liljefors and Kuhnert inspired his development. Rungius’s field sketches pointed out the need for on the spot references.
So in 1987 Oberg changed the direction of his career. He began to study with some of the contemporary plein air masters of today. For the past decade he has focused on painting the landscape on location as a means of learning the colors and values of the natural world, and how to capture a sense of the moment and place. Recently, animal subjects have begun to reappear in Oberg’s work, combining his natural drawing ability and accumulated knowledge of animals with a more impressionistic painting technique. Today Ralph and his wife, painter Shirley Novak, sketch the natural beauty they find near and far. These sketches are used to develop larger works in their studio and home in SW Colorado. Ralph is a Signature Member of the Plein Air Painters of America.
Ralph Oberg received the Weiss Award at the 1988 Buffalo Bill Show in Cody. The award winning work was included in the Buffalo Bill Historical Center’s permanent collection. His work is in the collection of the International Center for Wildlife Art, Gloucester, England . Another large landscape hangs permanently in the House Chambers of the Colorado State Capitol Building. In addition, his work is in numerous private and corporate collections. His works have also been exhibited at the National Museum of Wildlife Art, The Autry National Center, The National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum, the LA County Natural History Museum, the Loveland Museum, and the International Center for Wildlife Art in Britain. Feature articles on Oberg’s work have appeared in Art of the West,Southwest Art, Wildlife Art News, and Sporting Classics Magazines.
Education:
1968-1970 – Colorado State University, tuition/fee art scholarship.
1972-1973 – Seible School of Drafting, Denver, CO completed two diploma programs in record time with highest GPA to date.
1978-1986 – Personal Study with bird artist Don Malick, Denver, CO.
1983 – Bob Kuhn Workshop at Trails End Ranch, Jackson, WY.
– Scottsdale Artists’ School, Professional workshops attended.
1987 – Wayne Wolfe – Outdoor Painting, Scottsdale, AZ.
1989 – Clyde Aspevig – Outdoor Painting, Steamboat Springs, CO.
1993 – Clyde Aspevig – Studio Master Class, Scottsdale, AZ.
– Loveland Academy of Fine Arts workshops, Loveland, CO.
1996 – Skip Whitcomb – Outdoor Painting
1998 – Hollis Williford – Drawing
1996 – Len Chimel Workshop, Outdoor Painting, Bishop, CA.
1996 – Michael Lynch Workshop, Outdoor Painting, Aspen, CO.
2003 – Ned Jacob, painting horses from life – June.
2003 & 2004 – James Reynolds, Art discussions and critiques.
Workshop Materials List
1. Clay – Chavant Le Beau Touche. Get the regular clay, not HM (high melt).
2. Clay warming devices, a metal bucket with a clamp on heat lamp or 100 W bulb works great.
3. Tie wire.
4. Aluminum foil.
5. Scissors.
6. Favorite sculpture tools.
7. Plank of wood (pine) approximately 8″ x 8″ x 2″.
Bring as many planks as you wish…the wood is used as the base for your sculpture.
8. Plumber’s pipe, 1/2″ threaded: Bring several different lengths…up to 10″…not PVC pipe.
Plumber’s pipe T joint.
Plumber’s pipe couplers.
Plumber’s pipe flange.
9. Screws and screwdriver to secure the flange to wood…this may be done before you arrive. (Place flange in the center of plank)
10. Wire cutters
11. Needle nose pliers
12. Rubber mallet.
13. Spatula
14. Measuring devices such as rulers, measuring tape, dividers, and calipers.
15. Because we concentrate on BIRDS IN FLIGHT, live models in the classroom are more distracting than useful. I will demonstrate the technique of constructing a cantilevered bird armature that can be used for many different bird species and will show you how to assemble shapes to capture the “gist” of the specific bird.
16. Bird field guides such as Peterson, Stokes, Golden, or Sibley. Sibley’s Guide to Birds (not Sibley’s Guide to Bird Life and Behavior) is best if bringing only one field guide. This popular book can usually be purchased at any bookstore.
17. Bring your laptop to the class if possible.
18. Bring your sketchbook.
1 Lake Circle Colorado Springs, Colorado 80906
broadmoorgalleries.com