Thistle Print

Rick was born in St. Cloud Minnesota in 1958. He attended St Cloud State University and received a BFA in Fine Arts. Rick also minored in Aviation Technology while working towards his degree in Fine Arts. He joined the United States Air Force Reserve, and served for nine years giving him a chance to pursue his love of flying. Rick still fly’s commercially, which has afforded him the opportunity to travel and see parts of the world. Although he enjoys flying, Rick decided to continue his education in the field of art. This led him to attend The Minnesota River Valley School of Arts, where he took two years of portrait classes from its director Pat Jerde. Rick is a dedicated Plein Air artist, and always carries a sketch pad and a set of paints where ever he travels. Even though he has traveled throughout the world, Rick has settled back in Minnesota where he lives with his wife and daughters. He continually strives to capture the beauty in the world he sees around him and in particular the place he calls home. His vision of what he sees, the play of light and shadow in nature, is evident in his stunning landscapes. Whether it is a landscape, a handsomely designed still life set up, or one of his aviation art themed works, Rick manages to capture the rich and vibrant tapestry of nature’s canvas, and create a work of art that becomes a true gem in its own right. Each painting that holds his signature is a work of distinction. Rick’s paintings are proudly held in numerous public and private collections. His work may be viewed online at .