Welcome to Eric Rudd's Advice Books, Novels, Scripts, and Plays

This book will be of interest to people in the arts who want to know more about the art and art processes of artist Eric Rudd.  Rudd’s career covers more than a half century.  His use of new technology was at the forefront of contemporary art and his achievements signify the best of the art of today.  Because there is a foundation/museum whose mission is to preserve Rudd’s art, this memoir becomes the principle archival record associated with his extensive collection of artworks and the structure that the artist created, both personally and professionally, to support the creation and preservation of his artworks. 

From the Introduction: 

I just finished reading two books about Leonardo da Vinci.  He had his problems, that’s for sure.  And maybe he would not have made it, but he did do that Last Supper wall fresco, one of the most visited frescos in the world, and about a dozen incredibly beautiful paintings, including the all-time famous painting, Mona Lisa.  Not only did he leave that for the world, but it caught on to become perhaps the most popular painting in history.  It should be noted that he spent about fifteen years on that 21x30-inch work.  His peer, who he did not get along with, Michelangelo Buonarroti, did the other most famous fresco, the Sistine Chapel (a four-year effort), as well as his David (about a two-year effort), which became perhaps the most famous sculpture in the world.  These two artists lived in the same city at the same time.  I mention that because Leonardo worked in a small city by today’s standards; Florence had a population of about 70,000, and there were scores of artists, but probably not hundreds (unless you count all the apprentices) and certainly not thousands.  Today, artists “compete” with each other around the world, and there are millions of artists; yes, literally, millions.  It’s a very crowded field.

So, how did I do?  That’s the purpose of this reflection.  

Available at Amazon/Kindle.

About the eBook:

This short seminar distills decades of experience into one quick and impactful read. It’s designed to be respectful of a reader’s time — about the length of a lunch break or two — and priced for accessibility. The content is focused, no fluff: hard truths, essential insights, and encouragement drawn from more than 50 years in the art world.

While I’ve written extensively for working artists over the past two decades, this new eBook cuts straight to the heart of what serious artists need to know — whether they’re fresh out of school or reevaluating their direction mid-career.

I’m not trying to sell dreams or boost my royalties — Amazon doesn’t allow me to list the eBook for free, so I’ve priced it at the minimum: just 99 cents. It’s not about profit; it’s about impact.

Available on Amazon/Kindle. 

By Eric Rudd 

Print editions available at the Berkshire Art Museum, North Adams, MA

Order at Amazon.com

This is a book of good advice from an experienced artist. Rudd is a well-known sculptor and mixed media artist; and for ten years directed the Contemporary Artists Center, a not-for-profit artists' studio residency and exhibition facility in Massachussetts. He tells you how he got where he is, and how you too can manage your life so that you can live your dreams as an artist. 

“Artist Eric Rudd has not only created impressive art that pushes into new technologies, he has also built an incredible infrastructure to do his work.  His personal studio complex is inspiring.  I would advise other artists to observe what he has done.” 

Thomas Krens, Director, 

Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum

By Eric Rudd   Order at Amazon.com or Amazon Kindle

Another helpful resource from Eric Rudd. Here he offers practical tips on getting and financing work space. You'll learn Real Estate and legal issues and how to manage them, how to find money to pay for your space, how to fix up your space on the cheap, and more. You'll get 40 photographs and illustrations to help guide you. If you're up for the practical challenges involved, you'll thank Mr. Rudd for this guide. 

"Eric Rudd's art is impressive; his studio complex inspiring.  He is an artist to listen to."

Thomas Krens, Director, 

Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum

A Must Read for All Serious Artists!

A Novel by Eric Rudd

When 94-year-old Felix Peters boards a flight from Puerto Vallarta to New York, he knows time is running out. Desperate to share a dangerous secret before it's too late, he enlists the help of a stranger seated beside him. As Felix’s story unfolds, the seemingly isolated actions of a few in a sleepy Mexican village ripple across continents—shaking Los Angeles, Washington D.C., and ultimately, the world.

In his youth, Felix’s journey takes him from the vibrant art scene of Washington to the sun-soaked beaches of Puerto Vallarta and the bohemian enclave of Sayulita. There, he befriends Hollywood royalty Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton during the filming of The Night of the Iguana. This fateful encounter sets off a chain of events that intertwines art, love, and political conspiracy.

Back in Washington, Felix witnesses a shocking murder—the daylight assassination of Mary Meyer, an artist and former confidant of President Kennedy. As his reputation in the art world grows in Los Angeles, Felix begins to understand how art and politics are inextricably linked. However, it is Andy Warhol who inadvertently uncovers a secret capable of reshaping history—evidence so volatile it involves the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. The discovery is so dangerous that Elizabeth Taylor recruits Felix to protect it. Unaware of the full scope of the mystery, Felix becomes a pawn in a deadly game, pursued by powerful forces determined to bury the truth.

Decades later, haunted by the past and desperate to reveal what he knows, Felix plans a grand unveiling. But those who’ve kept the secret for so long will stop at nothing to silence him.

The Butterfly Conspiracy is a gripping, fictional tale woven from the threads of history, art, and scandal. Blurring the line between fact and fiction, it draws on real-life figures—Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, Andy Warhol, Mary Meyer, and Walter Hopps—to craft a suspenseful saga where the flicker of a butterfly’s wings can set off a political hurricane.

By Eric Rudd ©;  Photography by Kelly Lee.   Sold at Berkshire Art Museum and Amazon.com.

The northern Berkshires offer a combination of natural beauty, historic charm, and the transformation of the industrial past into acclaimed art museums and cultural activity. Special feature: Pictures and text showcasing one of the most interesting and successful collections of artist lofts and art spaces outside a major city. 

This is a romantic tale about a young writer, born with disadvantages, who experiences love, success, and tragedy.  As he maneuvers through life’s complexities and circumstances in the Berkshires of Massachusetts, Los Angeles, the island of Phu Quoc, Vietnam, and the small beach village of Sayulita, Mexico, he is watched over by his mentor, actor Dustin Hoffman.

Film script under development. 

Available on Amazon.com and Amazon/Kindle

THE ASSASSIN’S NEW CLOTHES
A novel by Eric Rudd

It’s the year 2064. Medical advancements have reached unprecedented heights, now able to predict life expectancies with eerie accuracy, while sweeping political, technological, and social changes have dramatically reshaped the world. Over the past four decades, two superpowers—the U.S. and China—have carved up the globe between them, with the Trump Dynasty continuing to dominate America, bolstered by the aid of sophisticated new algorithms.

The United States has successfully secured its southern border and even annexed its northern neighbor, Canada. However, beneath the surface, a growing discontent simmers. Liberals from both Canada and America are increasingly vocal in their opposition, and some rebel factions are preparing for more extreme actions.

When Rodney Glassman, a brilliant but troubled explosive engineer and inventor, receives the grim news of his shortened life expectancy, he finds himself drawn into a dangerous underworld. Recruited by an underground resistance group operating out of Mexico, Rodney becomes an unwilling participant in the most audacious assassination plot in American history.

Please do not reveal the ending of the novel to your friends or potential readers.

Available at Amazon.com.

Life is a miracle.  From primordial seas to dining at a trendy new restaurant in the city, evolution is truly remarkable.  The vast majority of Americans believe in life after death, but ask them for a description of Heaven, and everyone stops. Story:  An adventure story of epic proportions, Heaven;s Last Call is the story of one man’s journey into a real Heaven.   But Heaven is changing! As the earth’s dying population in huge proportions threatens Heaven’s existence, the characters are swept into the dramatic events as they unfold. 

 My eBook handbook will get you started after just one evening’s reading.  My short book is about solutions – not about giving you a school course. I’ve been there!  I’ll tell you what I did and how I did it.     Read this book before you consider spending your money on so-called financial experts – then decide.  You can do better for yourself than anyone will do for you – for free!  

Available at Amazon/Kindle.

Text and Illustrations By Eric Rudd ©A children’s story, set in a small Mexican village on the pacific coast; with lots of color (photo-drawings) illustrations.   Available on Amazon.com

A distinguished artist decides it’s time to write his memoir, but his publisher-advisor insists that unless he’s a famous person in politics, Hollywood or sports, or unless he’s experienced an event of national interest, there is no general public interest for his proposed memoir. Does he have something hidden that is really explosive? (For mature audiences; topics include gay and transgender issues.)

Wet Paint is an artistic smorgasbord about the razzle-dazzle of the New York City art world.  By compressing the action into a short period of time, the audience is treated to a visual spectacle - the creation of a gigantic contemporary painting, from a blank canvas to a finished painting displayed in an evening gallery opening reception.

    The play takes place in New York’s art district, an area full of galleries and artists’ studios; all the various players of the art world scene are there- artists, dealers, collectors, critics, viewers and art students.  

       Visually stunning, the painting soon plays an important role; with a twist ending, the entire art world is displayed in a funny but truthful manner.  All the scenes offer a multitude of experiences, and the characters bring to life the new “agony and ecstasy” of the contemporary art world.  

Adapted from the novel The Butterfly Conspiracy by Eric Rudd.

AN EPIC STORY OF ART, POLITICS AND INTRIGUE:  A Mexican village is an artist’s connection to Elizabeth Taylor, Andy Warhol and the hidden truth behind President Kennedy’s assassination.  The story begins on a flight from Puerto Vallarta to New York, when 90-year old Felix Peters enlists the help of the passenger seated next to him because he fears that he won’t be alive when the plane lands.  As his story and secrets unravel, it becomes clear that - as a butterfly flapping its wings can cause a tornado somewhere in the world - the actions of a few, in a small village in Mexico, can trigger bigger events in Los Angeles, Washington D.C. and perhaps affect world politics.

Adapted from the novel Maple Syrup and Fish Sauce by Eric Rudd.

This is a romantic tale about a young writer, born with the rarest of genetic disorders, who experiences love, success, and tragedy while being watched over by his mentor, actor Dustin Hoffman.   

As he deals with increased challenges after being medically cured through gene replacement, he has to face life’s complexities and circumstances of his own making in the Berkshires of Massachusetts, Los Angeles, the island of Phu Quoc, Vietnam, and the small beach village of Sayulita, Mexico.  

Learning about love and responsibility from two Vietnamese sisters, tears and laughter are shared by the young writer, his sibling, and his parents in this modern-day family story.

The storyboard was created by the artist on 24x30 inch panels with text, to be exhibited as an artwork in a gallery or museum setting.  It can be digitally reduced and produced in any format.

Adapted from the novel Heaven's Last Call  by Eric Rudd.

A real afterlife with 100 billion people and no room for more.

What if Heaven existed?  What would it look like?  How would it operate?  Would new technology and scientific knowledge change Heaven? 

Struggling artist Nick Saber finds himself in a realistically portrayed Heaven with 100 billion residents, an environment that has no room or resources for more, and in fact, a Heaven that has finally reached a crisis state.  As he meets fellow residents, finds out the extent of Heaven’s crowdedness, learns the scientific horrors and then his family’s disgrace and someone’s desire for revenge, he is enthralled with efforts to find safety for his female companion and comrades before all of Heaven collapses. 

An Adaptation from the play Wet Paint by Eric Rudd  © 1995, 2016

Older Women in the Nude is an artistic smorgasbord about the razzle-dazzle of the New York City art world.  By compressing the action into a short period of time, the audience is treated to a visual spectacle - the creation of a gigantic contemporary painting, from a blank canvas to a finished painting displayed in an evening gallery opening reception.

   The play takes place in New York’s art district, an area full of galleries and artists’ studios; all the various players of the art world scene are there- artists, dealers, collectors, critics, viewers and art students.  

   The story begins in an artist’s loft, and soon carries the audience through the worlds of an art school full of aspiring artists seeking fame, a dealer caught between the glamour of selling art and paying the bills, art collectors who pay enormous amounts for art, the museum director who represents the very establishment of what great art is and the art critic who ultimately makes a public judgment on it all.  Interwoven through all of this are two love stories, young greed, some politics and a scheme to make things happen in an unusual way.

 Each scene entertains with a variety of environments- but through all of the comings and goings, the audience gets to see an artist creating his masterpiece!  

 Visually stunning, the painting soon plays an important role; with a twist ending, the entire art world is displayed in a funny but truthful manner.  All the scenes offer a multitude of experiences, and the characters bring to life the new “agony and ecstasy” of the contemporary art world.  

Note: The original Wet Paint has a cast of younger adults.  A "mature" adaptation, geared for an older cast, was renamed, Older Women in the Nude.