The first annual "Grand Canyon Celebration of Art" will take place September 14-19, 2009. The event culminates with an exhibit and sale of art at the Kolb Studio, Grand Canyon National Park. All proceeds from this event will be dedicated to the creation of a permanent art venue in the Historic District of the South Rim, assuring that future generations willl be able to experience Grand Canyon at its best. I have the honor of being invited, along with 19 other artists, to participate in the exhibit. To learn more please visit www.grandcanyon.org . Image above: "Navajo Falls"; acrylic; 18 x 24 in.
"Merced River, Light Rain" - scratchboard/watercolor; 16 x 20 in. To see a larger version, please visit the "Scratchboard" page. Recently jury selected to the 2009 "Paint the Parks" national exhibit.
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Portfolio samples are presented as "thumbnails" (left sidebar above). Simply click on an image to view a larger version. All images are owned by the clients indicated, or myself. Please respect all copyrights and ownership and do not use these images under any circumstances, without permission. There is NO FREE CLIP ART on the website.
Contact: If you would like to discuss a project, request a quote, or have any questions or comments, please contact me via email at rickwheeler_1@msn.com or by phone at 520.743.8559. Mailing address: P.O. Box 1307, Green Valley, AZ 85614.
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Classes/Workshops for 2009:
1) Mentor, Prescott College, Tucson, AZ. This is an ongoing mentorship program, where I teach drawing, painting, and illustration.
2) Oct. 3-4 workshop: Acrylics and Scratchboard/watercolor: Both techniques will be covered. Sat.-Sun. workshop held at the Moab Arts & Recreation Center, Moab, Utah. Hours: 9 am-4 pm both days (with 1 hr. lunch break). Cost: $120. Class limited to 10 students. 8 x 10" canvas board and 8 x 10" scratchboard will be provided. Please email me for further information, registration, and/or materials list: rickwheeler_1@msn.com
3) "Adventures in Artistry" - Tubac, AZ - classes will be held at Beads of Tubac, in the historic village of Tubac, AZ. Next class is October, 2009. 1) Wed. mornings 9-Noon: Scratchboard & Watercolor; 2) Wed. afternoons 1-4 pm: Acrylics: A Painterly Approach. Classes are open to drop-in. Take one or several. $45 per 3-hr session. Please call 520-398-2070 to register, or visit www.beadsoftubac.com for more information. Prepayment is required.
4) "Quick Draw" - Art Institute at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. A 3-day workshop to help students learn to capture a quick study, with the flora and fauna of the Museum grounds as subject matter. We'll explore drawing small (5x7 or 6x9) using pencil and pen & ink, as well as capturing light and shadow using ink washes and/or watercolor. Oct. 30, 31-Nov. 1, 2009, 10 am-4 pm. To learn more visit www.desertmuseum.org .
Work in Progress, Recent Projects, Upcoming Events:
1) "Grand Canyon Celebration of Art" - Invited to participate in this inaugural event. Includes an art exhibit for the 20 invited artists, to be held at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon from Sept. 14-19, 2009. Visit www.grandcanyon.org to learn more.
2) Guild of Natural Science Illustrators, annual members exhibit. Jury selected to this year's "Eyes on Science Nature-Fine Art Exhibit" to be held at the Acadian Archives, University of Maine, Fort Kent. Please visit the "Scratchboard" page to see the work selected, "Harris' Hawk." The exhibit opens July 6, 2009 and will be on display for the month of July.
3) St. Geroge Art Museum, St George, Utah. Newly included into the museum's permanent collection for the painting, "Virgin River, Late Afternoon Light." Please visit the "Fine Art" page, and then the "Acrylics-Oils" subcategory to see the painting.
4) Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Missoula, Montana: series of 7 scratchboard illustrations for article in Bugle magazine. Please visit the "Scratchboard" page to see samples.
5) Children's Book, "In Madera Canyon" - Based on an earlier scratchboard/watercolor illustration commissioned by the Santa Rita Lodge, Madera Canyon, AZ. Includes new pencil wildlife illustrations. An educational nature book, with the canyon's extensive plant and wildlife as the focus. Author: Jane E. Holt. The book is now available on www.amazon.com and www.JaneEHolt.com .
6) "Vanishing Circle" - Invited to participate in this art exhibit featuring work of endangered flora and fauna of the Sonoran Desert. Sponsored by the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, Tucson, AZ. Exhibit to be held in 2010 and will tour parts of the U.S.
Bio:
Education/Experience: Originally from California, I have lived in the Four Corners region of the desert southwest since 1994. I have been an illustrator and graphic designer for more than 25 years. I hold a B.A. degree in Fine Art, with a minor in Integrative Studies from Prescott College, Arizona. I also hold an Associate of Arts degree in Graphic Design. Part of my education also included time at two of San Francisco's finest art schools - the San Francisco Art Institute and the Academy of Art University. At the S.F.A.I., where I was awarded a scholarship to attend, the focus was on drawing and painting. At the Academy of Art, it was illustration. Each school had a distinctive approach to education, the S.F.A.I. emphasizing "fine art", the Academy "commercial art". Both approaches proved valuable, and helped broaden my perspectives into the art world.
Two teachers I would like to mention who heavily influenced my art education are figurative painter, Kent Rupp, who, as a master draftsman, taught me everything I know about drawing, and Wally Hedrick (1928-2003) - an iconic figure in the San Francisco art scene and "beat era" of the 1950's - who by example taught me the value of living true to one's vision and ideals.
Although much of my work in recent years has been for the National Parks and Monuments and the outdoor adventure/eco-tourism industry, I have completed projects for a variety of clients with varied needs. These include book & magazine publishers, educational institutions, technology companies, the wine industry, arts organizations, non-profits, as well as other design firms and advertising agencies.
Illustration: techniques include 1) scratchboard and scratchboard/watercolor, 2) watercolor/mixed media, 3) pen & ink, and 4) digital imaging (please visit the "Fine Art" section to see examples of oils, acrylics, drawings, and mixed media) Design: for print media, including logos, ad design, brochures, posters, signage, etc.
Partial client list: Abercrombie & Kent/Sheri Griffith Expeditions, ABsolute Pilates, Arches National Park, Association of Partners for Public Lands, Canyonlands Advertising, Canyonlands Natural History Association, Castle Creek Winery, Cobalt Fine Arts Gallery, Country Jam USA, Environmental Technology Center/Sonoma State University, Glen Ellen Winery, Glacier National Park, Grand Canyon Association, Hovenweep National Monument, Joshua Tree National Park, JW Morris Winery, Karin Newby Gallery, KC Publications, Men's Journal, Mesa Verde National Park, Moab Folk Festival (Canyonlands Advertising), Moab Music Festival, National Geographic Society, National Parks Conservation Association, Optical Coating Lab, Inc.(OCLI), Oregon Zoo (Portland), Patagonia, Pinnacles National Monument, Red Cliffs Desert Reserve, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Santa Rita Lodge, Save Our Wild Salmon Coalition, Sequoia Natural History Association, Tucson Musicians Museum, U.S. Marine Corps (Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs Division), USS Arizona Memorial National Park, Virgin River Land Preservation Association, Windsor Vineyards, Yosemite Association, Zion National Park & Zion Natural History Association.
Other sites where my work can be seen include www.natureartists.com (Artists for Conservation Foundation, of which I'm a member) and as a 13-year member of the Guild of Natural Science Illustrators www.science-art.com/rickarts. I am also currently a member of the Society of Illustrators www.societyillustrators.org , the Tubac Center of the Arts www.tubacarts.org , and the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum www.desertmuseum.org , where I'll be teaching in my fourth year at the Art Institute wing of the museum Oct. 30-Nov. 1, 2009.
Gallery Representation: Currently representing my work:
Hutchings Fine Art - Silver City, NM (575) 534-9009
Overlook Gallery - Moab, UT (435) 259-3861
Rogoway's Turquoise Tortoise Gallery - Tubac, AZ (520) 398-2041
Please revisit, as I update the site frequently. Thank you.
