Artist Bio
Gerry Rasmussen was born and raised in Edmonton and studied art from a young age. He attended the Banff School of Art before attending the U of A BFA Program at the University of Alberta. His interest in cartooning developed alongside his painting talent. Joining talents with fellow art student Gary Delainey, the two created the legendary cartoon strip BUB SLUG which ran in the U of A's Gateway from 1976-78. It became one of most popular features ever published by the Gateway in it's 100 years.
Rasmussen was an accomplished painter even before his BFA years, and was the School's candidate for the acclaimed Yale University Summer Program, attended on scholarship by the most talented students from around North America.
After art school, work started on syndicating daily cartoons, a collaboration with Delainey writing and Rasmussen drawing. Starting in 1980, they syndicated "GRAMPS", and then created a long run of BUB SLUG in the Edmonton Journal weekly colour comics from 1983- 87 which became an enormous local hit favorite for the lampooned citizens of Edmonton. They then took those characters and syndicated "BETTY" which is still running strong today in newspapers around the world. "Delainey and Rasmussen" are now today's
Charles Schultz.
In addition to drawing the daily strip, Gerry's interest in depicting the local historical characters and personalities has kept him busy, as well as a continuing demand for commissions. Recently, he has worked on painting portraits with archival inks on birch panel, applied with a variety of tools and instruments, like sticks, for markmaking. Described by a critic as a "staggeringly keen caricaturist", his work is always remarkable for its' realism, uncanny likenesses, inventiveness and humour.
These colour paintings were presented in May 2015, entitled " TAKE ME TO YOUR LEADER", during the Alberta election, and attracted interested and amused citizens to the exhibition every day.
If you are an Albertan, see if you can pick out who these famous political citizens are, and were. Commissions are welcome!
More pictures, titles and pricing are coming! (Nov 2021).
Rasmussen was an accomplished painter even before his BFA years, and was the School's candidate for the acclaimed Yale University Summer Program, attended on scholarship by the most talented students from around North America.
After art school, work started on syndicating daily cartoons, a collaboration with Delainey writing and Rasmussen drawing. Starting in 1980, they syndicated "GRAMPS", and then created a long run of BUB SLUG in the Edmonton Journal weekly colour comics from 1983- 87 which became an enormous local hit favorite for the lampooned citizens of Edmonton. They then took those characters and syndicated "BETTY" which is still running strong today in newspapers around the world. "Delainey and Rasmussen" are now today's
Charles Schultz.
In addition to drawing the daily strip, Gerry's interest in depicting the local historical characters and personalities has kept him busy, as well as a continuing demand for commissions. Recently, he has worked on painting portraits with archival inks on birch panel, applied with a variety of tools and instruments, like sticks, for markmaking. Described by a critic as a "staggeringly keen caricaturist", his work is always remarkable for its' realism, uncanny likenesses, inventiveness and humour.
These colour paintings were presented in May 2015, entitled " TAKE ME TO YOUR LEADER", during the Alberta election, and attracted interested and amused citizens to the exhibition every day.
If you are an Albertan, see if you can pick out who these famous political citizens are, and were. Commissions are welcome!
More pictures, titles and pricing are coming! (Nov 2021).
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