Eric Bodtker
Silicon Valley - based Contemporary Landscape artist Eric Bodtker's passion is to create bold and vibrant paintings. Incorporating both the palette knife and brush, he creates various layers and textures that help give each painting its own dimension. His favorite subject matters include landscapes of California, Hawaii, and France - particularly the Provence region. Eric's style has been influenced by Cloisonnism, Fauvism, and Post-Impressionism. And if a particular scene, such as a cityscape, calls for a different style to fit how he wants to interpret it, he has no fear adjusting the painting technique to achieve that goal.
As the former head of global recruiting at Varian Medical Systems, Eric often demonstrated to visitors how the latest cancer fighting technology worked to save lives. Being part of a team to battle cancer around the world and hearing the stories of cancer survivors during the day often inspired him to get to the easel in the evening.
From the high tech world to the Easel
Before his full-time life in the art world, Eric began a successful career in recruiting while living in Tokyo which ultimately led him on a path back to California where he managed the global recruiting function in some of Silicon Valley's largest tech companies. In 2004 while living in Carmel on the weekends to escape the daily hustle of the tech world and to show his dog a good time on the beach, he got inspired to start painting while visiting the many galleries in town and making friends with local artists. Eric always found a way to visit museums and galleries wherever his global business travel took him.
Primarily a self-taught artist
Eric often visits museums and galleries in the US and Europe, studying techniques and composition, sketching, and conversing with artists with a variety of backgrounds. One of his favorite activities is to paint on the same locations where the artists who have influenced his style made many of their masterpieces. For more formal study, he has attended workshops by Cyndra Bradford, Gabor Svagrik, and the late Ken Auster.
Collectors
They often described his art as bright, positive, and happy. His paintings can be found with private and corporate collectors in the US, Canada, Asia, and Europe. Click here to see some collector comments.
No fear - Eric snuck in and exhibited a small painting of his into the Musée d'Orsay in Paris.
Gallery Representation
- JCO’S Art Haus - Los Gatos, California
- Gallery Elite - Carmel, California
- Davis & Co. Fine Art Gallery - Houston, Texas
- Gallery Saratoga, Saratoga, California
Juried Exhibitions
-BIG Show - JCO’s Art Haus - Los Gatos, CA - 2022
-Affordable Art Show - JCO’S Art Haus - Los Gatos, CA - 2021 & 2022
-Monterey Bay Plein Air Assoc. Signature Show - Pacific Grove, CA - 2019
-Fusion Art "Cityscapes" Exhibition Finalist -Palm Springs, CA - 2017
-Pacific Art League's "Summer Exposure" Show, Palo Alto - 2017
- Los Gatos Art in the Chamber Show, Los Gatos, CA - 2017
- Silicon Valley Open Studio's Preview Exhibition 2017 - Art Ark Gallery, San Jose, CA - 2017
- UArt Open - University Art, Redwood City, CA - 2015
- Greater Bay Area Open Show - NUMU, New Museum Los Gatos, CA - 2015
- Le Petit Trianon Show, San Jose, CA - 2015
- The Rites of Spring Show, Houston, TX - 2014
Plein Air Painting in the footsteps of Cezanne - Mont-Sainte Victoire in Aix-en-Provence.
Exhibitions/Recognitions
-Solo Show - Orvis at Santana Row, San Jose, CA - 2015
- Silicon Valley Open Studios, Los Gatos, CA - 2015
- Two Person Show at Ameriprise Corporation, San Jose, CA - 2015
- Gallery Saratoga Featured Artist of the Month, Saratoga, CA - 2014
- Multiple Artist of the Day spotlights on Visual Language Contemporary Fine Art Magazine
- 25th Anniversary Christmas Creche Exhibit, Palo Alto, CA - 2012
- Group Show at Ameriprise Corporation, San Jose, CA - 2009
Media
- "Get a close-up look at art during Silicon Valley Open Studios" Mercury News - May 2015
http://tinyurl.com/k6uo2xs
- San Jose Talent Magazine, May 2015
http://www.sanjosetalentmag.com/emag/story/eric-bodtker
Associations
- Oil Painters of America - Associate Member
- Monterey Bay Plein Air Painters Association
- Los Gatos Art Association
- California Art Club
Shopping at the Sennelier art store in Paris.
Me and Kyle celebrating acceptance into Gallery Elite! At 17 years old I needed to carry him around when he had enough walking. Funny story…the Gallery Director asked me use “Artist With The Cool Dog” in an email subject line so she would recognize it’s from me.
Giving a painting demonstration to the Saratoga Contemporary Artist group.
Plein air painting at the Pu'u O Kila lookout on the island of Kauai. This is Eric's happy spot.
Personally delivering a painting to Ristorante Ciak in Monterosso, Italy.