Rich Wilkie

My paintings are simple representations of my odd ideas, silly habits, fears and insecurities. I started painting at age 8. I took a 25 year hiatus to work in the animation industry. When I returned to portrait painting, I focused on portraying emotions and movement to bring the still image to life. Now I paint to air my laundry in public.

My goal is to change the viewers state of mind - in the hopes the viewer learns something about themselves.

My process is to choose an image with a compelling emotion. I identify the emotion and think of an event in my life when I felt similar. I feel that emotion while I paint that emotion.

My animation career began at Disney, animating on Pocahontas, The Hunchback of Notre Dame and Hercules. Some of the other shows I have worked on include, Stuart Little, Spider-Man, Scooby-Doo, and King of the Hill. My last animation gig was as Supervising Director for Netflix on Bill Burr’s animated show “F is for Family”.

When painting portraits, I paint my subjects looking out at the viewer, so the viewer can make eye-to-eye contact and develop a bond with the subject. I capture the subject between ideas, in that moment after they have finished speaking, when they are taking a breath just...

Important Exhibitions:

CAW, “Heart to Heart - Valentine show”, Santa Barbara CA, Feb 3, 2024

Voice Gallery, "SBVA at the Voice", Santa Barbara CA, Feb 2024

Samarkand, “Eyes of War, Words of Hope”, Santa Barbara CA, Dec 15, 2023

CAW, “Ready to Hang”, Santa Barbara CA, Nov 18, 2023

Ukrainian Art Center, “LArtists For Ukraine fundraiser”, Los Angeles CA, Oct 29, 2023

Voice Gallery “Terra Firma”, Santa Barbara CA, Oct 2023

CAW “Eyes of War – Eyes of Hope” Aug 15 to 18, 2023

Ukrainian Art Center, “LArtists For Ukraine fundraiser”, Los Angeles CA, Feb 26, 2023

Ukrainian Art Center, “LArtists For Ukraine fundraiser”, Los Angeles CA, Nov 26, 2023

CAW, “Ready to Hang”, Santa Barbara CA, Nov 17, 2022