Born and raised in Minnesota, Michael settled in the Green Mountains of Vermont where he began his full-time career as an artist in 1977. Working with agents in New York, he found immediate success as a freelance illustrator which brought him national notoriety and a career that lasted 25 years. In 2002, he left illustration behind to become a full time fine artist. This eventually led him to concentrate his efforts on the subject of the Old West as represented by narrative paintings of the 1800s.
Michael says, “I love to create paintings that illustrate the 19th century Old West and the history of the American frontier. This gives me the opportunity to paint figures, landscapes, action, animals, interesting costuming and, of course, dust and atmosphere! I find that storytelling through narrative painting allows me to address both serious and light-hearted subjects. I also enjoy the challenge of trying to create works of art that are moving, beautiful and timeless in their appeal. Relying upon the good Lord’s inspiration and a lot of hard work, I daily try to live up to the challenge.”
Michael has written and published articles for American Artist and The Artists Magazine, and his work has been showcased numerous times in Art of the West, Southwest Art and Western Art Collector. He’s been a guest lecturer and instructor at many art institutions and museums including the Booth Western Art Museum, Brigham Young University, Museum of Biblical Art in Dallas, and Scottsdale Artists School.
Besides Michael’s numerous gallery affiliations, he has shown and sold his work at the CM Russell Museum, Scottsdale and Coeur d’Alene Art Auctions, National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, Booth Museum of Western Art, Briscoe Western Art Museum, and Eiteljorg Museum. In the fall of 2016, he was invited to become a member of the prestigious Cowboy Artists of America. In recent years, his paintings have won twelve important awards.
In 2013, he published a signed and numbered limited edition book which showcases 87 paintings entitled C. Michael Dudash – Western Collection. In March 2020, he presented a one man show of twenty paintings at Legacy Gallery in Scottsdale, Arizona, which included a presentation called “An American Painters Journey: From Illustration to Fine Art.”
Michael currently works out of his home and studio in the Coeur d’Alene, Idaho area where he lives with his wife Valerie. To learn more about Michael’s art and career, visit cmdudash.com.
