Rudy Zea is a Maryland artist living in Harford County. He attended Loyola University for undergraduate school and then went on to the Catholic University of America where he obtained a Ph.D. in Psychology in the School of Arts and Sciences with a special interest in perception and aesthetics. Rudy also attended the Maryland Institute College of Art focusing primarily in figure and portraiture and then studied with internationally recognized portraitist, Palden Hamilton. Throughout his life, Rudy’s interests have included the psychology of art, aesthetics, art history, and the attributes of modern and contemporary art. He has also taught at Towson State University. Although initially an oil painter, Rudy has been developing techniques using acrylics to paint in the academic style. He maintains that just as in the fifteenth century when the painting media of choice changed from tempera to oils, there is now an increasing use of acrylics whose potential has not yet been determined. He points out that even hard core oil painters very often use acrylics if only to prime their canvases. Like some of his teachers, Rudy has been influenced by the work of William Bouguereau, John Singer Sargent, and James McNeil Whistler. Although Rudy adheres closely to the representational school of Classical Realism, he also greatly admires several other contemporary movements. Rudy maintains that portraiture begins with the careful observation of nature, but as the painter works, the artist’s emotionality, temperament, focus, and technique enriches perception to reveal the subject’s hidden character. His paintings and pen and ink portraits are character studies that seek to illustrate not only the external but also the immanent qualities of his subjects and evoke an emotional response from the viewer. Rudy has had several commissions from private collectors to portray people of all ages. He has also had exhibits at the Pickersgill, Retirement Community, The Maryland Institute College of Art, and the Zoll Studio and several other private showings.

Learn more about Rudy at artbyrudyzea.com

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