Beginning in 1991, U.S. Art magazine polled art and frame shops around the country to recognize America's "Most Popular Artist."  As of 1998, Redlin was the only artist to have ever received this recognition.

Redlin was born (1937) on a farm near Watertown. His family lived in a modest house with a single light in each room. A light was turned on only when a person was in the room and was turned off when that person left.  In spite of his family's "sparse economic condition," he was still able to roam the countryside (hills, woods, lakes, prairie) and enjoy the wildlife. His enthusiasm for the outdoors sometimes hurt his schoolwork; his parents and teachers remember that he was an "incurable daydreamer." However, he excelled in art courses.

He spent much of his time hunting and fishing, carving lures and repairing old rifles. He looked forward to being a gunsmith, a taxidermist or a forest ranger. Then a motorcycle accident resulted in the loss of a leg. At fifteen his world was shattered. But he decided to push forward. Art became both a spiritual therapy and a way to stay in touch with nature.

Redlin and his future wife, Helene graduated from WHS in 1955. A year later they married and moved to Forest Lake, MN. while he attended the School of Associated Arts in St. Paul.

His first job was designing playing cards for Brown and Bigelow. In the company storeroom he discovered original paintings by artists such as Norman Rockwell. He spent his noon hours studying the composition and brush work of these artists.

He moved to Watertown in 1960. He spent 6 years as an architectural illustrator, developing his drawing techniques and dealing with the laws of perspective. Then he moved back to the Twin Cities as an illustrator for Webb Publishing. He moved up the ladder to the position of a magazine art director, but this took him away from the drawing board.

He spent weekends, evenings and vacations outdoors studying wildlife and in his basement studio drawing, painting and dreaming.

His first open edition print was published in 1977. A year later he resigned at Webb Publishing to become a full-time artist.  His work was an immediate success.

His distinctive style often involves evening or night scenes with brightly-lit houses.

Redlin practices a strict limited edition policy.

His awards include:
*1981 - Minn. duck
*1982 - Minn. trout
*1983 - ND duck
*1984 - Quail Unlimited
*1985 - Minn. duck
*1992 - U.S. Art's Hall of Fame

Advice to aspiring young artists: "The only true and lasting success is achieved out of the originality that is basic to each individual's talent and vision. The temptation to copy someone else's work is doomed to failure."

"Get out into the field and into your own mind."