Michael Budden

Michael Budden, born in 1957, is an artist living and working in his native New Jersey.  Mr. Budden graduated with degrees in art from Mercer County Community College and the College Of  New Jersey in 1980. During the 80's, Budden concentrated on painting wildlife winning over 100 awards in shows across the country.  His unique use of composition, mood and lighting attracted the attention of major art publishers, art magazines and museums throughout the country. So strong were these paintings, many can be found in the permanent collections of the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum, Wausau, WI; Hiram Blauvelt Wildlife Museum, Oradell, NJ; and the Bennington Center for the Arts, Bennington, VT, and in many private collections throughout the US and abroad.  His art has been featured on many products like prints, collector plates, cards and calendars and used to help raise awareness and critical funding for wildlife preservation. Magazines like The Artists Magazine, Wildlife Art News, and Midwest Art and now American Art Review showcased his art.

In 1989, Budden was introduced to plein air painting by an artist friend in Montana. The artist states, “Painting outdoors direct from nature is based on painting from my heart about what I see and how I respond to what I see. It is an interesting change to paint direct outdoors and when a special painting comes from that experience it is truly gratifying.  Although he currently still does plein air painting, he has returned to studio painting with a new appreciation for creating the effects of light. During the 1990’s, Budden concentrated mostly on landscapes and seascapes and in a short time started winning awards with these paintings. In 2006, he had a major shift in subject matter and started to focus on city scenes. Mostly of New York City. His first city scene  “ Looking Up Fifth Avenue, NYC” not only won an award but sold for one of the highest prices for his paintings at the Salmagundi Club auctions and has helped to create the strong interest in his paintings he still enjoys today.

In 2006, Mr. Budden was invited to design the White House Easter Egg representing New Jersey and met with the First Lady, Mrs. Laura Bush during the unveiling of the exhibit. He is a consistent award winner at the Salmagundi Club, NYC, recently winning two of the clubs top awards. He is a TWO TIME WINNER of both the "Arthur T Hill Memorial Award" and the ” Alden Bryan Memorial Award for Traditional Landscape in Oil” 2009, again in 2012, the top prize, and major 2008 Purchase Award of the “Flatiron” painting. His painting hangs at the Salmagundi Club alongside some of the most important American painters throughout history. He won the 2012 Laumiester Award at the Bennington Center for the Arts in Bennington. VT and recently earned the distinction "Fellow Maxima Cum Laude" from the American Artists Professional League. One of only 29 artists in the world to earn this distinction at that time. In 2012, Mr. Budden received one of his most prized awards, being selected into the Bordentown Regional High School “Alumni Hall of Fame”. Budden is a member of the Salmagundi Club,Philadelphia Sketch Club, Signature Member of American Artists Professional League, Allied Artists, Audubon Artists and American Society of Marine Artists