"Landscapes are glimpses into eternity. The land around us is a tangible link to the countless generations which have come before us, and is our gift to the future. The quality of stewardship of our planet is a vital point on which our civilization will be judged by future generations. I paint these undeveloped areas to depict their spirit, to express the exuberance and vitality of the natural world. In this way I hope to foster appreciation of our natural areas. By excluding man-made structures, I avoid being pinned down to a particular period of time. My paintings are attempts at getting outside of time, at creating timeless icons of existence."

Born and raised near Cincinnati, Ohio, Todd Muskopf captures the essence of the Midwest in his paintings. Lush fields, rolling hills, and quiet bodies of water are the typical subjects for Mr. Muskopf's unique approach to landscape painting. Heightened colors punctuated with contrasting complements create a shimmering surface which conveys the vigorous and powerful life force teeming in the subject. These intense colors combine with a lavish application of oil paint to create paintings which could be termed a loose Impressionism or an articulate Expressionism.

Mr. Muskopf believes it is very important to begin his paintings on site in order to form a deep connection between the painting and the subject matter. After several hours in the open air, the painting is transported back to the studio where it is finished over the next few days as the details, harmonies, and emotional aspirations of each piece are contemplated and defined.

He lists the works of Claude Monet and Vincent van Gogh as guiding influences over the development of his style. He is also influenced by Emil Nolde, Chaim Soutine, and Oskar Kokoschka, among others.

Mr. Muskopf received his B.F.A. in Painting from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. He has had solo exhibitions at the Hoyt Institute of Fine Art in Pennsylvania and the Middletown Fine Arts Center near Cincinnati. He has shown his work in numerous exhibitions across the United States. His work is included in several public and private collections including the Kettering Medical Center in Dayton. He currently resides with his family near Dayton, Ohio.

Available for commissioned work. Contact Dick Kleinman Fine Art