WELCOME-please scroll down for bio, classes, client list, updates & art news, or click on Portfolio buttons at left. Digital & Traditional Illustration and Graphic Design, as well as Fine Art section and Class/Workshop info. Studio: 520.405.9342 / rickwheeler_1@msn.com Headline Grand Canyon Celebration of Art - Plein Air - Sept. 11-18 Having participated in the first "Grand Canyon Celebration of Art," I've now been invited to be one of the 30 artists for the second annual event. This is a fundraiser for the Grand Canyon's plans to build a permanent exhibit space for their extensive art collecion, which includes, I'm honored to say, one of my own. September 11-18 is the plein air on the south rim part of the event. The exhibit that opens Sept. 18 at the Kolb Studio features both studio work and the plein air work. The public is invited. The show continues at the Kolb until November 28, 2010. All sales go toward Grand Canyon National Park's efforts to build a permanent art exhibit hall for public access. For more information, please visit www.grandcanyon.org  "Paint the Parks" Jury Selected to Top 200, 2010 Recently juried selected to the Top 200 "Paint the Parks" 2010 exhibit. This is a view of Havasu Creek, located in Havasu Canyon, home to the Havasupai people, Grand Canyon National Park, AZ. Please visit www.paintamerica.org for more information. Image: "Havasu Creek" (2010); acrylic on panel; 18 x 24 in. (art is also viewable on the Fine Arts / acrylic-oil page) Headline 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 520.405.9342. Bio - Class Schedule - Client List 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 included classes at the San Francisco Art Institute and the San Francisco 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. Classes/Workshops for 2010-2011: 1) Mentor, Prescott College, Tucson, AZ. This is an ongoing mentorship program, where I teach drawing, painting, and illustration. 2) "Quick Draw" - Art Institute at the Arizona-Sonoran 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. Next workshop: November 19, 20, 21, 2010 and February 25, 26, 27, 2011. To learn more visit www.desertmuseum.org . 3) "Scratchboard/Watercolor" - Art Institute at the Arizona-Sonoran Desert Museum. February, 2011. Class meets 5 consecutive Thursdays, 1-4 pm: Feb. 10, 17, 24 and Mar. 3,10. Please visit www.desertmuseum.org for registration. 4) Tubac, Arizona classes for 2011 to come. Work in Progress, Recent Projects, Upcoming Events: 1) Sequoia/Kings Canyon National Parks, California. Scratchboard/watercolor illustration for the park's Fire Education program. 2) Save Our Wild Salmon, based in Seattle, Washington. Watercolor map of the Pacific Northwest and Alaska to be used for a documentary on the wild salmon of the region. S.O.S. seeks to re-establish and preserve the natural habitat of the wild pacific salmon.  3) Grand Canyon Celebration of Art, Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona. September 11-18, 2010. Plein air painting event, along with studio art exhibit at Kolb Studio, south rim. Fundraiser for the Park's plans to build an exhibit hall for their permanent art collection. More information available at www.grandcanyon.org.   4) Paint the Parks - Recently jury selected to the Top 200 for 2010 for the painting "Havasu Creek" (please see above, or visit Fine Art/acrylics & oils page to view) 5) Plein Air Moab, Moab, Utah. October 1-8, 2010. I look forward to participating in this First Annual plein air event in the spectacular canyon country of Moab, Utah. Event culminates with exhibit and sale. Visit www.pleinairmoab.com for more information. 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 2011 and will tour parts of the U.S. 6) ForeWord Book Awards nomination: The illustrated children's book, "In Madera Canyon" was nominated as a finalist in the 2009 ForeWord Book of the Year Awards under the 'children's picture book' category. The finalists, representing 360 publishers, were selected from 1,400 entries in 60 categories. These books are examples of independent publishing at its best. Author: Jane E. Holt; please visit the "Brochures, etc." page to see book page/illustration samples. Partial Client List: Abercrombie & Kent/Sheri Griffith Expeditions, ABsolute Pilates, Arches National Park, Association of Partners for Public Lands, A/M Studios, 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 Geographic School Publishing, 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 14-year member of the Guild of Natural Science Illustrators www.science-art.com/rickarts. I am also currently a member of the New York Society of Illustrators www.societyillustrators.org , the Tubac Center of the Arts www.tubacarts.org , and the Arizona-Sonoran Desert Museum www.desertmuseum.org , where I'll be teaching in my fourth year at the Art Institute wing of the museum November 19,20,21, 2010. Gallery Representation: Currently representing my work: Overlook Gallery - Moab, UT (435) 259-3861 Reily Fine Art - Estes Park, CO (one painting only at this time, "Casting" oil on canvas) In recent years, my work has been exhibited in Arts for the Parks, Grand Canyon 'Celebration of Art', Paint the Parks, Zion National Park's 'Century of Sanctuary' (Juror's Award), and several Guild of Natural Science Illustrators members exhibits, among others. My work is in the permanent collection of Grand Canyon National Park, St. George Art Museum (Utah), Sonoma State University (California), as well as several private collections throughout the country. Please revisit, as I update the site frequently. Thank you.