Judd Mercer is a contemporary landscape painter and Colorado native obsessed with telling stories through light. Working in plein air and the studio, Judd explores the tension 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 with an emphasis on design and storytelling. 

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."

Previous Events/Publications 

2022 Solo Show, Abend Gallery, CO 

2022 Best of Plein Air Show, LPAPA, CA 

2021 "10 Artists to Collect Now," Plein Air Magazine, Oct/Nov Issue 

2020 14th Annual Less is More Show, LPAPA, CA 

2020 4th Annual Waterworks Show, LPAPA, CA 

2020 14th Annual Less is More Show, LPAPA, CA 

2019 Colorado Watercolor Society State Show  

2019 LPAPA Plein Air Invitational, CA 

2019 Young Guns Show, Coors Western Art Exhibit 

Gallery Experience 

Abend Gallery, Denver, CO (2021-Present) 

Walker Fine Art, Denver, CO (2020) 

Alpine Fine Art, Denver, CO (2017-2019)