Judd Mercer is a contemporary landscape painter and Colorado native obsessed with telling stories through light. Working en plein air and in the studio, Judd explores the tension that exists between ourselves and the landscape and plays with our relationship to wild, exhilarating vastness. Always on the hunt for transient, magic moments that exist in secret places along roads less traveled, Judd seeks to capture the powerful wonder permeating even the quietest scenes. Judd works in both oil and gouache and frequently participates in plein air invitational events across the country.

Teaching Philosophy

Interests in design, illustration, and storyboarding allow me to pair traditional painting skills with emotional storytelling—concepts that help to better capture the story of a landscape. Having mentored designers professionally, I’ve come to realize that attitude and intent are essential for students, and a good teacher helps frame a mindset. Students can get easily discouraged early on and a teacher’s job is to break down the process into manageable (but challenging) parts. Students need to experience small successes to get excited about the process, rather than the goal of producing finished work. A commitment to sustained practice is really where success and joy come from. I help people relax and let go of expectations to create an environment in which learning is easier—and more fun."