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JEFFREY K. BEDRICK
ARTIST BIOGRAPHY
"The course of life is unpredictable; no one can write his autobiography in advance."
Abraham J. Heschel
Jeffrey K. Bedrick was born in Providence, Rhode Island in the 1960s and moved with his family to Northern California in the early 70s. His artistic ability was recognized early as it developed in the Bohemian world of 70s hippie culture.
At thirteen, he spent time visiting the studio of his neighbor, renowned surrealist Norman Stiegelmeyer who coined the term "Visionary" to describe a contemporary art movement that focused on spiritual and utopian "visions" experienced in altered states of consciousness - whether through drugs or meditation. Later at sixteen, Jeffrey met his idol, Gage Taylor, a painter of fantastic landscapes and a colleague of Steigelmeyer. Taylor accepted Bedrick as a private apprentice. By eighteen, Bedrick was accepting invitations to exhibit his work alongside his mentors. He continued his studies at the College of Marin with Bill Martin, another renowned Visionary landscape painter. For over 20 years since, Bedrick has produced art in a wide variety of genres and media.
He spent a year studying cinematography and animation at San Francisco State University and earned a modest living as an art assistant at Colossal Pictures, a San Francisco animation studio. He also continued exibiting and selling his original paintings in numerous gallery shows during the art boom of the mid-eighties. He later stretched into the arena of commercial illustration. In 1989, he moved from the bucolic beauty of Marin County across the bridge to immerse himself in the urban life of San Francisco. There, he struggled as a freelance commercial illustrator until 1993 when he was taken under contract by Collector's Editions, a major fine art publisher. He spent the next year producing a large body of new work, culminating in a major Tokyo exhibit.When his contract with Collector's Editions ended, he returned to commercial illustration and landed a major job as color keyist for the animated feature "Fern Gully 2" with Wild Brain animation studio in San Francisco. In the meantime, he had met his future wife Freya, another artist as well as model and floral designer. After completing the Fern Gully project, Bedrick began working with his first computer. He interviewed for an artist position at a San Francisco computer game developer and got the job. He then moved on to work for numerous digital entertainment developers in the San Francico and Los Angeles areas with increasing breadth of creative responsibilities at each position. In 2003, he completed a six-month contract with DreamWorks/PDI back in the San Francisco Bay Area as a digital matte painter for Shrek 2, the highest-grossing animated film of all time. He then spent a year in Seattle as art director for a small game developer for several games including the online version of Lemony Snickett's "A Series of Unfortunate Events".
Moving freely between fine art and commercial art, he has done illustration and design for feature films, television, the stage, advertising, print, computer games and the internet. His fantastic paintings have been published in countless forms including gift cards, posters, limited edition prints, books, magazines, puzzles, and other collectibles. Notable projects include background art for animated features, Shrek 2, The Little Mermaid 2, Fern Gully 2, Dudley Do-Right, many TV commercials; digital art for scores of interactive media titles; numerous book illustrations including a children's book Weather for Doubleday; 3D design for Cybertown - The Sci-fi Community of the Future. Corporate collections include The San Francisco Opera, Pacific Telesis, Mazda, Proctor & Gamble, and GTE. He is listed in 2000 Outstanding Artists & Designers of the 20th Century
After some legal negotiations with former publishers, he finally retrieved all rights to publish his own work and immediately launched Bedrick Fine Art Editions, which offers fine quality giclee prints of his many original images.
Bedrick and his wife parted ways in 2004 with shared custody of their daughter Anja. He currently lives in the San Francisco Bay Area.
2004: Art Director. OBERON MEDIA. Complete graphics & art supervision for computer games including BETRAPPED and A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS.
2003: Digital Matte Painter. DREAMWORKS/PDI. For SHREK 2.
2002: 3D Lighting Artist. NAUGHTY DOG, INC. For JAK 2.
2001-2002: Lead Level Builder, Concept Artist, 3d Modeler And Texture Painter. PROLIFIC PUBLISHING. For 3D fantasy and action games, major platforms including Sony PlayStation2, Nintendo Gamecube, Gameboy Advance.
1999-2000 Lead Artist. BLAXXUN INTERACTIVE. For CYBERTOWN online VRML 3D environments.
1999 Storyboard Artist. Lowe & Partners; Kirshenbaum, Bond & Partners. For various national ad campaigns.
1999 Digital Storyboard/Comp Artist. PRESAGE SOFTWARE, Several titles for children's interactive CD-Roms.
1999 Digital Storyboard/Comp Artist. MONDO MEDIA, for "Netfighter" online game.
1999 Digital Background Artist. WILD BRAIN, Titles for live action feature film, "Dudley Do-Right" and "Willy Wonka" candy TV commercial.
1998 Color Key Stylist, CHARACTER BUILDERS, for DISNEY'S "Little Mermaid II"
1998 Senior Artist. (staff) PF.MAGIC. 2 & 3D art, animation, advertising and packaging illustration for interactive PC "Petz" products. (Also used in-house proprietary 3D software.)
1997-8 Concept Artist, 3d Modeler And Texture Painter. (staff) RADICAL ENTERTAINMENT INC., San Francisco, CA. For 3D fantasy/action & sports games. (Working game demo available.)
1997 Storyboard Artist. GOODBY, SILVERSTEIN & PARTNERS, San Francisco, CA. Storyboards for TV spots including Sutter Home and Hewlett-Packard.
1996-8 Animation Color Key/ Background Artist. WILD BRAIN, San Francisco, CA. for animated feature, "Fern Gully II, The Magical Rescue". Worked with acclaimed animation director, Phil Robinson. Also, backgrounds for Sprite "Voltron" commercial with director, Ed Bell.
1996 Digital Storyboard Artist. CONVIVIAL DESIGNS, INC. (now PURPLE MOON), San Francisco, CA for "Rocketts New School" interactive CD-ROM game.
1995-96 Conceptual Illustrator. GOLDEN CHALICE PRODUCTIONS, Los Angeles, CA. Series of production illustrations for "The Legend of Holly Claus" book and screenplay by Brittney Ryan.
1992 Illustrator & Ad Comp Artist. TRANSPHERE INTERNATIONAL advertising agency. Numerous print ad campaigns.
1992 Commercial Muralist. GILTSPUR, INC. , Burlingame, CA. Painted large-scale trade show display murals for clients including California Strawberries Advisory Board, Syntex Pharmaceuticals, Cirrus Computers.
1990 Muralist/ Conservator. JOHN CANNING DESIGN COMPANY. Worked with team of conservators on historic mural restoration for the Valentine Museum, Richmond, VA.
1988-95 Decorative Muralist. Various California design companies including Shalah Ettefagh Studios, Maxion Designs, Elizabeth Weiner & Associates, Guided Imagery, Renaissance Mural Company.
1981-91 Animation Assistant & Background Artist. COLOSSAL PICTURES, San Francisco, CA. Periodic employment for numerous commercial television spots. (Reel available.)
2004: Storyopolis Gallery, Los Angeles, CA. Window exhibit of orignal art for “Holly Claus”.
2001: Harvest Gallery, Tokyo, Japan. Solo show of original paintings and limited edition reproductions.
2001: New York Art Expo / Platinum Raven Gallery
1995: Collector's Editions/Lyrical Art Company. Group exhibit. Tokyo, Japan.
1993/94: Los Angeles Art Expo. Anaheim, CA.
1992: Fine Art Enterprises Gallery. One man show, "Pop Icons". San Francisco, CA.
1992: San Francisco Open Studios.
1992: Architects & Heroes. One man show, "Pop Icons". San Francisco, CA.
1991: "The Environment". Group exhibit. Toyota Amlux Corporate Headquarters. Tokyo, Japan.
1991: Conacher Galleries. Group exhibit. San Francisco, CA.
1991: Brandywine Fantasy Gallery. Group exhibit. Chicago, IL.
1989: Center Gallery at the Hyatt Hotel. Group exhibit. Lahaina, Maui, HI.
1987: Dyansen Gallery. Group exhibit. New York City.
1985: "One Hundred Vows of the Sun". Group exhibit. Southern Exposure Gallery. San Francisco, CA.
1983: "Interfaith Peace Conference". Group exhibit. Grace Cathedral. San Francisco, CA.
1980: The City Gallery at the St. Francis Hotel. Group exhibit. San Francisco, CA.
1979: "The Year of the Child". Group exhibit. UNICEF headquarters. San Francisco, CA.
1978: "Vision Quest 78". Group exhibit. Golden Gate Park Hall of Flowers. San Francisco, CA.
| Pacific Telesis Corporation Mazda Corporation Syntex Corporation Proctor & Gamble Corporation Household Specialty Corporation Shaklee Corporation |
GTE Corporation
California Strawberries Advisory Board Relix Magazine Maxim's Restaurant Brotherhood of Life Books Golden Chalice Productions |
| Plus
numerous private collectors in U.S. and Japan. |
|
2002: Bedrick Fine Art Editions. Complete line of limited edition giclee reproductions.
2002: Wisdom Light Books: Complete illustrations for "THE KINGDOM OF LIGHT" by Barbara Martin & Dimitri Moraitis.
2001: Platinum Raven, Inc. Line of limited edition giclee reproductions.
2001: Hay House Publishing. Dr. Doreen Virtue's "Angel Cards".
1996: Milk and Honey. Line of fine art gift cards.
1995: Collector's Editions. Line of limited edition fine art reproductions.
1995: Open Channel Sound Company (BMI). Cassette and CD cover art for Stephen Halpern's "Gifts of the Angels".
1992-95: Connecting Link Magazine. Several cover and interior illustrations.
1992: Shaklee Corporation. Poster illustration for national ad campaign.
1991: San Francisco Opera Guild. Cover art for "Port to Port" wine & travel auction magazine.
1991: The Queen's Cards. Extensive line of fine art gift cards.
1991: Proctor & Gamble. Complete illustrations for children's book, "Whoosh!"
1991: Dino Cards Publishing. Illustrations for line of dinosaur trading cards.
1990: Mazda Corporation. Illustration for national ad campaign appearing in USA TODAY.
1990: Doubleday. Complete illustrations for children's book, "Weather", by Howard E. Smith.
1989: Inner Traditions International. Book cover illustrations for "Psychonavigation" by John Perkins, "The Healing Power of Your Mind" by Rolf Alexander, "Financial Success" by Wallace D. Wattles, "The World is Sound" by Joachim-Ernst Berendt.
1989: GTE Corporation. Illustrations for Spacenet (TM) communications satellite national ad campaign.
1988: Trump Enterprises. Illustration for Trump Plaza & Casino advertisement appearing in Atlantic City Magazine.
1987-90: Brotherhood of Life Books. Cover art for "The Lost Continent of Mu" series of five books by Col. James Churchward, "Shamanic Healing Within the Medicine Wheel" by Marie-Lu Lorler, "Other Tongues, Other Flesh" by George Hunt Williamson.
1987: Aquamarin Verlag. Line of fine art postcards published and distributed exclusively in Europe.
1986: Sun Publishing, Inc. Cover art for Marin County telephone directory.
1985: Visionary Publishing, Inc. Line of fine art gift cards & posters.
1984: Grateful Dead Productions. Illustration for calendar and T-shirts.
1979: Pomegranate Publications. Line of fine art gift cards.
1999: 2000 Outstanding Artists & Designers of the 20th Century. Biographee listing.
1992: The Bay Area Public Reviewer, November issue. Cover art and featured artist article.
1992: The City Magazine, April issue. Featured artist article.
1992: The Richmond Review, March issue. Featured artist article.
1990: Magical Blend Magazine, October issue. Cover art and featured artist article.
1994- Who's Who in American Art. Biographee listing.
1993- Who's Who in California. Biographee listing.
1992- Who's Who in the West. Biographee listing.
1990: Reviews of illustrated Children's book, "Weather":
- New York Times Book Review, May issue.
- Kirkus Times, May 15 issue.
- Louisville Courier-Journal, June 16 issue.
- Picayune Times, June 29 issue.
- Denver Post, August 2 issue.
- Tampa Tribune, August 12 issue.
1977-79: Private painting apprenticeship with acclaimed artist, Gage Taylor.
1980: College of Marin art department, painting student of acclaimed artist, Bill Martin.
1980-90: On the job training in animation during periodic contractual employment at Colossal Pictures.
1983: Studied cinematography and animation at San Francisco State University.
1986: Extensive tour of major European art museums.
1998: On the job training in digital media at Radical Entertainment and PF. Magic.
Digital: Photoshop, Illustrator, Quark, Director, 3D Studio Max, After Effects, Flash, Bryce, etc.
Traditional: All traditional media including oils, acrylics, airbrush, etc.