His paintings can be seen in exhibitions and galleries from Washington to Florida. He has a lengthy list of celebrity, corporate and private collectors. He’s painted artwork for the Minnesota Twins, Vikings and Timberwolves. And although he currently lives in Seattle, artist Robert Blehert gave back to his hometown with artwork for the 125th St. Paul Winter Carnival.
“In recent years, I’ve grown more and more intrigued by the beauty of the Twin Cities,” Blehert said. “There are the people, the sense of what they call ‘Minnesota nice.’ There’s a certain feel to the Twin Cities that I’ve never seen anywhere else.”
After graduating from the University of Minnesota in 1976, Blehert completed three years at the university’s College of Veterinary Medicine, but he knew he wanted to pursue his passion for art. When he was just 3, he remembers watching his brother, also an artist, draw on notebook paper. Blehert says he looked at the piece of paper and decided that’s what he wanted to do in life. He left the vet school in 1979 to pursue an art career, but he dabbled in sales to keep a steady income.
One day, he saw a painting that reminded him of a Rembrandt piece. He knew he could learn something from the artist. Thirty miles north of Seattle on Whidbey Island, Blehert became Libby Berry’s 13th student. Today, he credits much of his unique style to Berry’s classical training.
In the recent decade, Blehert discovered the work of another inspirational artist. He happened upon the website of popular American artist LeRoy Neiman. Blehert said that although he had always been inspired by the art of the “old boys,” like Monet and Rembrandt, Neiman’s was the most profound work he had seen in the modern age.
“I think it’s rare when an artist conveys feeling like (his) in the work,” Blehert said. “It’s beyond technical somehow. I think he’s one of the greatest artists of all time, so I couldn’t help but be inspired by it.”
Blehert decided to experiment in Neiman’s style. His first piece in that style, a painting of previous Minnesota Twins pitcher Johan Santana, was a huge success; the Twins used the painting for their poster of the 2006 season schedule.
It was only after Blehert gained success as a sports artist that he discovered a remarkable connection to Nieman: Not only were both artists born in St. Paul, but Neiman had painted the art for the 100th Winter Carnival poster.
Blehert said he doesn’t try to imitate Neiman’s work, but he tries to capture the feeling Neiman puts into each piece. As a full-time artist for 20 years, Blehert ultimately doesn’t like to put labels on his work, but he does consider himself an impressionist.
Copyright 2011 Pioneer Press.