ANDERSON POND II is an original pastel painting by Minnesota artist Frederick Somers. Fred Somers has been painting full-time since 1975 at his farm-home-studio near Northfield, MN. His oil and pastel paintings, known for their peaceful sensitivity, reflect themes from the land.

" I seek to bring to others an experience of the beauty of light as it bathes creation and to point them to a pathway that reaches into eternity."-- Frederick Somers

Dimentions: 24" x 20"

Frederick D. Somers, PSA-Hall of Fame, IAPS-MC, Eminent Pastellist

" I seek to bring to others an experience of the beauty of light as it bathes creation and to point them to a pathway that reaches into eternity."

Fred Somers has been painting full-time since 1975 at his farm-home-studio near Northfield, MN. His oil and pastel paintings, known for their peaceful sensitivity, reflect themes from the land. Whether in intimate views of grass, rocks and water with reflections of light and sky, or in spacious vistas of the countryside he seeks to share the hidden places of nature. He now brings his love of life to sensitive commissioned portraits.

Fred’s pastel paintings of the Big Woods State Park near Northfield were chosen for the 1996 Minnesota State Park Permit design. He also continues to inspire others through his painting workshops in the U.S. and abroad. Since his designation as American Swedish Artist of the Year in 1984 he has continued to exhibit and teach in Scandinavia.

Experience:

Since 1975: Full-time studio artist: Exhibitions, commissioned works, gallery and studio sales,
taught painting workshops. Opened a gallery in a remodeled granary at his rural
Northfield home in 1995.

1995 Taught pastel painting, 1989 watercolor painting classes Mullsjö Folkhögskola, Sweden

1970-75 and 1980 Instructor of painting, drawing, printmaking, art education, and gallery director at St. Olaf and Carleton colleges, Northfield, MN

2017-18 President, Lake Country Pastel Society

Education:

University of Iowa, MA in drawing, MFA in painting;

University of Omaha, BFA.

Selected Honors:

2023 1st Place Stella Gilbertson Cookie Competition

2023 Honorable Mention Award Richeson 75 Landscape Seascape & Architecture

2022 Accepted in the Pastel Society of Southern California International Online Exhibit of pastel paintings

2022 1st Place Stella Gilbertson Cookie Competition

2022 Masters Status Pastel Society of America

2022 Accepted in the Pastel Society of America 50th Annual Enduring Brilliance Exhibit of pastel paintings

2022 Accepted in the International Association of Pastel Societies Pastelworld Exhibition

2022 Honored Elder at 23rd Annual Community Celebration of Place: Elder's Wisdom; Nerstrand Elementary School

2022 Pastel World Magazine "Rambling American Pastel Painting"

2021 Accepted in the Pastel Society of America 49th Annual Enduring Brilliance Exhibit of pastel paintings

2020 Signature Member Oil Painters of America

2020 Butler Institute of American Art chose "Pirouette" 18x24 pastel, poured pigment and 22 ct gold leaf for their permanent collection

2020 Accepted in the Pastel Society of America 48th Annual Enduring Brilliance Exhibit of pastel paintings

2020 Inducted into the Pastel Society of America Hall of Fame with Maceo W Mitchell

2020 1st Place “Winter Interlude” show Lake Country Pastel Society

2019 Pastel Society of America - Traveling exhibition Butler Institute of American Art

2019 Appointed to Minnesota State Capital Art Advisory Committee

2019 Pastel Journal Magazine "20@20" celebrating the magazine's 20th anniversary, named one of 20 artists of excellence.

2017 International Association of Pastel Societies Masters Exhibit honors

2016 Pastel 100 Abstract Division Honors Pastel Journal Magazine

2016 Pastel Society of America Enduring Brilliance Juried Exhibit Bill Creevy Award for Innovation in Pastel

2019 & 2016-17 Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council (SEMAC) established artist grant

2019-2020 & 2013-14 Minnesota State Arts Board and National Endowment for the Arts, Artist Initiative Grant.

2015 Pastel 100 juried exhibition by Pastel Journal Magazine 1st place, Abstract division

2014 Prix de Pastel, top prize in 25th annual exhibit, International Association of Pastel Societies

2013 Named Eminent Pastellist by International Association of Pastel Societies. Fred is only the second person in organization to receive this honor

2012 International Birds in Art Traveling Exhibition, International Association of Pastel Societies 20 Juried Exhibit, Bronze Award

2011 Invited to teach two workshops for the International Association of Pastel Societies Biennial Convention, Albuquerque, NM,

2010 Oil Painters of America: juried into both National and Eastern Regional Exhibitions

2010 Pastel Society of America - Traveling exhibition Butler Museum of American Art

2009 Prix de Pastel grand prize International Association of Pastel Societies, Ventana Gallery, Santa Fe, NM

2009 Best Art of 2009 The Artists Magazine First Place Abstract Division.

2008 Honors, 2009 and 2010 Honors, Juried Exhibition International Association of Pastel Societies, Butler Institute for American Art, Youngstown Ohio.

2007 Inducted into the Masters Circle by the International Association of Pastel Societies

2007 Minnesota Landscape Artist of the Year by Great River Greening

Pastel Society of America Juried Invitational 2004, Gladys Douglas Award;

2006, 2007 & 2008 Pastels 100, Honorable Mention Winner
in Landscape (2) and Animal and Wildlife painting (1) 2008 Honors in Abstract Art
2003 Pastels 100 sponsored by Pastel Journal Magazine Ruth Richeson
Grand Prize and 2nd place prize Landscape division

1996 Minnesota State Park Permit design

Full membership in the Pastel Society of America, an organization recognizing professional excellence among pastel artists.

Oil Painters of America Associate membership

Who’s Who in American Art

“American Swedish Artist of the Year” 1984 with feature exhibits in Växjö, Sweden and the American Swedish Institute, Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Publications:

Video: Discover Seven Falls Valley featuring Fred Somers on "Off 90" KSMQ Public Television & YouTube

Genesis: the Art of Creation by Paul Krause, has played on Minnesota Public Television since 2013. Now available on YouTube

Books:

Pure Pastel-Collection of Today's Top Artists, 2019 North Light Publishing

Art Journey: Abstract Painting-- A Celebration of Contemporary Art 2017

Art Journey America: Landscapes 87 artists from across America
Richeson 75 International Landscapes 2007
Best of Pastel: Pure Color cover art and 2 featured works 2006.
Celebrating Door County’s Wild Places, 2001

Articles:

Pastel Journal Feature Article: Conjuring the Landscape February 2021

Pastel Journal Feature Article: Enduring Brilliance Hall of Fame Inductee December 2020

Forty-Eighth Annual Exhibition Catalogue by Pastel Society of America November 2020

Fine Art Connoisseur October 2020

The Artist's Magazine January 2012

Pastel Journal October 2009 Feature Article

Pastelagram published by Pastel Society of America, Feature Article
Winter 2008

The Artist’s Magazine, Feature Article June 2007.
Award Article: December 2006 “Pastel Journal” March 2006, 2007, December & October 2004, Mar-Apr 2003, “U.S. Art” magazine 1989

Selected Exhibitions:

Miracle Of Waters Minnesota Marine Art Museum Winona MN

Enduring Brilliance 2020 Pastel Society of America

50th Anniversary Retrospect Exhibition "Borders & Betweens" American Swedish Institute Minneapolis, MN

Pastel Painters Society of Cape Cod “2020 Pastels Only” Juried Exhibition

Enduring Brilliance 2019 Pastel Society of America

Enduring Brilliance 2018 Pastel Society of America

International Association of Pastel Societies 2018 Annual Exhibit, Tacoma, WA

Oil Painters of America National Juried Exhibition 2018 Steamboat Springs, CO

Enduring Brilliance 2017 Pastel Society of America

International Association of Pastel Societies Master Circle juried exhibition 2017 Albuquerque, NM

Oil Painters of America National Juried Exhibition 2017 Eisele Gallery, Cincinnati OH

Enduring Brilliance 2016 Pastel Society of America, Bill Creevey Award for Innovation in Pastel, New York, NY

Oil Painters of America Regional Exhibition 2016 Cincinnati, OH

International Association Pastel Societies Convention Masters Circle 2015 juried show 2 paintings and presented 2 demonstrations

Oil Painters of America 2014 National Juried Exhibition, Bennington, VT

International Association of Pastel Societies 25th Juried exhibition Prix de Pastel award. Their highest award.

Oil Painters of America 2013 National Juried Exhibition, Fredericksberg, TX

International Association of Pastel Societies, Juried Exhibition, Brea CA, Bronze Award

Richeson Landscape 75 Juried International Exhibition, Kimberly WI 2007 2nd place award

“A Million Shades of Green:” Honors Exhibition, Great River Greening at
Como Conservatory, St. Paul, MN 2007
“From the Heartland” Invitational group exhibition, Rochester Art Center Onofrio Gallery.
“Barn Again” Juried Exhibition, Barnside Gallery, Kewanee, WI 2005
Pastel Society of the West Coast, 2004 juried exhibition
International Association of Pastel Societies, Kansas City MO, 1997,
Conference Peoples’ Choice Award, 2003, Bethlehem PA 2004, Raleigh,
NC Honors 2005, online exhibit Honors 2006.
“Pastels Only” Pastel Society of America, New York, New York. 1997, 1993, 1997, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007
Pastel Society of America Juried Invitational 2004. Dunedin FL, Gladys Douglas Award for Outstanding Merit
Minnesota State Fair Fine Art Exhibition, St. Paul MN 1990, 1991 and 1994,
2004 awards, 1996 2nd honors, 1997, merit 1999, 2nd place painting 2005, Honors 2007
“Annual Juried Exhibition” Lakes Country Pastel Society, Minneapolis, MN
1998 First Honors, 1999, 2005. Best in Show, 2001 & 2002 First Place, 2003, 2004, Best in Show 2006
“Birds in Art” Leigh Yawkey Woodson Museum, Wausau, WI 1997 and 2003, 2005, 2006 Traveling exhibition 1997-98
“Joint exhibitions with sculptors David & Mary Ahrendt, Johnson Heritage Museum, Grand Marais, MN, 1996 and Miller Art Museum Sturgeon Bay, WI 1997
Featured Artist Exhibitions, Edgewood Orchard Gallery, Fish Creek WI 1999, 1995, 1990, 1988
"Landscapes in Oil" '04, “Robed in Splendor” ’95, “Celebrate Jubilee” ’92 solo shows at Premier Gallery, Minneapolis, MN
Connecticut Pastel Society, juried exhibition 1994
Featured Artist, Berger Sanzèn Museum, Lindsborg Kansas Hyllningsfest
Biannual Celebration 1993
“Wetlands and Wildlife” juried Wetlands and America Show, Westchester County Museum, Yonkers NY 1992
Kansas Pastel Society 6th Annual International Exhibition: “For Pastels Only” Wichita, Kansas, 1989 and 1990
Nebraska Artists’ Retrospective, Nebraska Museum of Art, Kearny NE 1990
Solo Exhibitions in Scandinavia: Mullsjö and Falköping, Sweden and Steinberg Norway 1989, ’09 & ‘95, Galleri Æ, Jönköping and Göteberg, Sweden, 1984 & ’85
“Homeland” solo exhibition, American Swedish Institute, Minneapolis, MN
1988 featuring themes from Swedish home sites belonging to American-Swedish immigrants. 1985-86 “Light in Tangent” solo shows Växjö Museum, Växjö, Sweden and American Swedish Institute, Minneapolis, MN
“Contemporary Realism,” National juried exhibition, the Yuma Art Center and Leslie Levy Gallery, Scottsdale, AZ
Challenge of the Land” Pillsbury Corporation 1981

Selected Collections

Hennepin County Medical Center, Minneapolis, MN; Minnesota Marine Art Museum, University of Minnesota Neuroscience Center, Fairview Clinics, St. Joseph’s Hospital, Health East Hospitals, Hennepin County Government Center, Stassen Building, St. Paul, 3M Company, Richeson Fine Art Collection, Acuity Insurance Company, Northland Insurance Companies, Northwestern and Marquette Banks, First Wisconsin Bank of Madison WI, Employers Insurance of Wausau, Kemper Insurance Companies, Medtronic, Hewlett-Packard, Thrivent Insurance, the Mayo Clinics, University of Minnesota Hospitals, Allina Medical Clinics, Regions Hospital, Syngenta Corporation International Headquarters, Radisson Hotels in the Twin Cities and Scottsdale AZ, Associated Bank of Manitowoc WI, as well as more than 400 other private and business collections in the United States and abroad.

Permanent Museum Collections: Minnesota Museum of Marine Art, Winona, MN; Miller Art Center, Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin; Leigh Yawhey Woodson Art Museum, Wausau, Wisconsin; Nebraska Museum of Art, Kearney, NE; St Olaf College, Northfield, MN

What others say:

"Beautiful, contemplative view
of nature…sophisticated use of color.
Wonderfully sensitive” Sally Strand, Pastel Journal Magazine, March/April 2003

“Somers’ paintings depict a natural world glowing with light. He studies both the detail of nature and broader views of the landscape, all with an eye for interesting forms and strong color.” Door County Advocate
March 14, 1997.

“He speaks gently of the interplay of light and shadow among trees represented in his large forest scenes. He lovingly focuses on several square inches of small pastel stones along a stream bank. He pulls the viewer’s eye into a hidden pool with iridescent lights. The feeling is one of magical intimacy.” Cook County News-Herald, August 19, 1996.