Sketching Brown Bears on the McNeil River, Alaska
Master Artist
Most Solberg has spent a lifetime developing his Painting that has gained him prestige and recognition around the world.
Photo By Scott Solberg
Style & Quality
A combination of realism and abstract is a pervasive style in Mort's work. He uses oils, acrylics and watercolors.
"Deceptive Calm"
Inspired Artist
"Ice Bear"
Mort with his wife Terri Lynch Solberg
Photo By Scott Solberg
Listed Artist
Mort is listed in:
Who's Who Of International Biographies
Who's Who In America
Who's Who In American Art
Who's Who In The West
About Mort
Morten E. Solberg is Internationally known for his work.He is versatile in all mediums. He paints in oil, acrylic and watercolor and his techniques range from photo-realism to total abstraction. He has devoted over 60 years to pursuing his craft via design studios, commercial art and his own fine art painting.
Mort attended The Cleveland Institute Of Art nights studying painting and design. He shed his commercial ties and concentrated on fine art and has been painting full time since 1970. After moving to Southern California's Orange County in 1968, he firmly established himself in the art world, living in Running Springs, Carmel, Santa Barbara and Sonoma and San Diego, gaining memberships in the American Watercolor Society, the National Watercolor Society, the Society of Animal Artists, Wildlife Artists of the World, Knickerbocker Artists and the Society of Master Impressionists.
Awards
Awards and inclusions in prestigious collections followed. His paintings have graced the covers of numerous magazines, and he has been featured in American Artist, Wildlife Art News, Art West, Watercolor, Sports Afield, Sporting Classic, Southwest Art and Orange County Illustrated. In 1986, American Artist chose Mort as their "Artist of the Year". The Susan K. Black Foundation honored Mort with a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2016
His accomplishments have earned him listings in Who's Who International Biographies, Who's Who in America, Who's Who in American Art, and Who's Who in the West. In 1993, Mort was elected to U.S. Art Magazines "Artist Hall of Fame". In 2001 Wildlife Art Magazine established Mort as a "Master Artist". Mort's work has been published as limited edition prints since 1977.
Mort's work has taken top awards in many of the exhibitions he has entered, including the American Watercolor Society, the National Watercolor, the Society of Animal Artists and the Arts For The Parks Grand Prize of $25,000 and Gold Medal. His work is represented in many collections including the Smithsonian Institution, National Gallery of Art, National Academy of Design, The Leigh Yawkey Woodson Museum Of Art, The Dunnegan Museum Of Art, The National World Museum Of Environmental Art, American Artist Magazine, Wildlife Art Magazine, National Parks Academy For The Arts and many private and public collections.
Art Influences
Mort's interests are many and varied and they are often reflected in his art. American Indian history and culture hold a special allure for Mort, perhaps because his great grandmother was Native American. Norwegian whalers and explorers are among his ancestors. Wildlife, romantic women with parasols, flowers, fisherman, cowboys and nature have provided him with endless colors and shapes with which to design.
He is inspired by all that is around him, especially his family. Mort and his wife, Terri, have three daughters: Brandalyn, Monet and Tauna. Mort has three adult sons. Mort Jr., who upon leaving the Navy, chose to drive 18 wheelers and reside in North Carolina where he has returned to college and is studying computer technology. Eric, a graduate of Miami of Ohio, is an Art Director for a magazine publisher in Ohio and plays guitar in a band. Scott, a graduate of UCLA, is an Art Director and a Senior Graphic designer working in New York City and is a fine photographer. Tauna has moved to South Carolina with Mort and Terri where she is continuing her art studies, picture framing and studying photography. Monet, is a graduate of William & Mary and San Diego State University and is now working for Johnson & Johnson in the State of Washington . Brandalyn is a University of California at Santa Barbara graduate and credentialed elementary school teacher. After teaching in Anchorage and exploring the many wonders of Alaska, Brandy became a Radiology Technician while living in Arizona and has now moved back to Anchorage, Alaska.
Mort, Terri and Tauna make their home today in the city of Bluffton, South Carolina near Hilton Head.
Collections
Mort's work can be found at Cleveland Museum of Art in OH, Leigh Yawkey Woodson Museum Of Art in WI, Smithsonian Institute in Washington, DC, National Academy Of Design For The National Art Gallery in Washington DC, The Raymond James Financial Collection, FL. The Natural World Museum Of Environmental Art in CA, Dunnegan Museum Of Art in MO, Wildlife Experience Museum in CO, Bennington Center For The Arts in VT, Ella Sharp Museum Of Art & History in MO, The Rockefeller Collection, American Artist magazine, The Irvine Corporation Commission in CA, The Marriott Hotel, The White House in Washington DC and many more public and private collections.
Membership
Mort is a member of National Watercolor Society, American Watercolor Society, Florida Watercolor Society, Master Signature Artist Society Of Animal Artists , Knickerbocker Artists, Artist Guild of The San Diego Museum of Art, Susan K. Black Foundation Board Member, Society Of Master Impressionists Lifetime Master Artist, Signature Member American Society Of Marine Artists and the Society of Painters in Acrylic & Casein.
Media
Mort's works has been featured in dozens of magazines, articles and books around the work. He has been featured on the cover of Wildlife Art, Grey's Sporting Journal, Watercolor and Wildlife News. He was artist of the Year for American Artist Magazine. Feature articles have appeared in Decor Magazine Norway, Western Art Collector, Southwestern Art, France "The Art Of Watercolor" and many others. Click on BIO at the top of the page for a list of Articles & Magazine Covers and Books.
Quote;
“The most beautiful experience we can have is the mysterious.
It is the fundamental emotion that stands at the cradle of true art and true science.”
― Albert Einstein, The World As I See It