Charles Schridde - Artist brings skills to the world of pro rodeo
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Charles Schridde's considerable artistic talents are displayed on the cover of this year's National Finals Rodeo souvenir program and the official 1999 NFR poster. A portrait of Ty Murray, who won his historic seventh world all-around championship in 1998, is featured on the cover. Schridde said the portrait of Murray was one of his favorite portraits, and one of his best works.

Schridde, who had built a successful career as an illustrator and commercial photographer, sold his business in the early 1990s and moved to Laguna Beach, Calif., to concentrate on painting.

Schridde began drawing as a child and studied at art schools in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and California.

He began his career in art as an advertising illustrator, then switched to photography. He was a successful commercial photographer, shooting for such companies as Chevrolet and Oldsmobile.

After retiring, he decided to return to painting 25 years after last picking up a brush. He painted automobiles in such a way that they appeared to be in motion, then realized he could use the same techniques with other subject matter, namely rodeo.

He has been featured in such publications as Automobile, Car & Driver Gentleman's Quarterly, Photo District News, Southwest Art, and The Detroit News & Observer. His work was included in the book Art of the American West.

He was featured in the November issue of American Cowboy magazine.