{"id":90170,"date":"2025-02-14T08:04:32","date_gmt":"2025-02-14T15:04:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/artistsofutah.org\/15Bytes\/?p=90170"},"modified":"2025-03-17T06:43:22","modified_gmt":"2025-03-17T13:43:22","slug":"unexpected-mentorship-shaped-the-trajectory-of-courtney-derricks-career","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/artistsofutah.org\/15Bytes\/unexpected-mentorship-shaped-the-trajectory-of-courtney-derricks-career\/","title":{"rendered":"Unexpected Mentorship Shaped the Trajectory of Courtney Derrick\u2019s Career"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Randall Lake and Courtney Derrick in Lake’s studio at The Guthrie Building, 2013.\u00a0 Courtesy of cityhomeCOLLECTIVE.<\/p><\/div>\n

When asked about artistic influence, Courtney Derrick doesn’t turn to the history books or international art stars, but to someone closer to home: Randall Lake.<\/h4>\n

After earning her BFA in Painting and Drawing from the University of Utah in 2002, Derrick left the state and worked for a decade in branding, custom invitation design, and advertising. When she moved back to Utah in 2011, she was eager to get back into painting.<\/h4>\n

“I applied for a mentorship with Randall Lake, never thinking I\u2019d be selected given the number of applicants,” she says.\u00a0 Lake calls himself a 21st-century painter drawn to 19th-century realism, but what Derrick likes most about his work is how he “transforms ordinary, even mundane, landscapes into something extraordinary. He uses bold, arbitrary colors that may seem nonsensical during the process, but once the painting is complete, it\u2019s the most exciting thing you’ve ever seen.” During their in-person interview, Lake offered some quick advice on her work and a tour of his spacious studio in the Guthrie Building in downtown Salt Lake City. “I thought that would be my one and only meeting with Randall, so I was over the moon when I found out he had accepted me as his mentee.”<\/h4>\n
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Still life paintings by Randall Lake (left) and Courtney Derrick in Randall Lake’s Salt Lake City studio. Image courtesy of Courtney Derrick.<\/p><\/div>\n

During the mentorship, the pair painted together multiple times a week. \u201cAt first, I worked on my own paintings while he critiqued them. Over time, we set up still lifes together, painting our own interpretations side by side … It was both fun and invaluable to paint side by side, seeing how differently we interpreted the same setup. Whenever I felt stuck, I\u2019d pause to watch him work, observing how he approached challenges. It was a gold mine of knowledge for me.”<\/h4>\n

Lake\u2019s guidance encouraged Derrick to take risks, embrace color, and break free from creative restraint. \u201cHe was always annoyed by my gravitation toward muted tones,\u201d she says. \u201cHis deep admiration for art history sparked my own love for it and inspired me to incorporate those influences into my work.” Lake’s influence extended beyond technique\u2014he taught her the importance of artistic confidence, urging her to resist external pressures and stay true to her own vision.<\/h4>\n

One of the greatest lessons Derrick absorbed from Lake was the ability to tune out unnecessary criticism. \u201cHe pushed me to respect my work and trust my abilities without second-guessing,\u201d she explains. \u201cHis belief in me was transformative; he told me I was great, and I believed him.\u201d This encouragement not only strengthened her confidence but also reinforced the value of artistic independence. Lake\u2019s approach to painting\u2014turning ordinary landscapes into extraordinary compositions through bold, unexpected color choices\u2014left a lasting impression on Derrick\u2019s evolving style.<\/h4>\n