Today we’d like to introduce you to Thom Ricks.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelor of Fine Art in December of 1971. I purchased a traveling French easel as my graduation present for myself, hoping I would travel the world as an artist. I meet artist-illustrator John Groth as a junior at UT, he traveled the world working for newspapers, magazines and book publisher’s as a professional artist/illustrator. After listening to his exciting stories of travels, I whispered to myself, that’s what I would like to do! It’s now been 54 years as a self employed professional artist-illustrator traveling the globe sketching and painting. San Antonio and the surrounding areas has always been my home base, I’m a native texan, my grandmother’s relatives fought at the battle of San Jacinto and were awarded 2000 acres of land which included Enchanted Rock up by Llano, Texas. I’m currently sketching and painting for the month of August up in Rocky Mountain National Park, outside Loveland, Colorado. I’ve traveled around the world 40 plus times with my French easel capturing the essence of San Antonio or some place in the world.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Sometimes smooth, sometimes I’ve had to adapt to technological advances, the economy and my own doubts about how art and illustration sales are going and will people want to buy what I’m creating. Because I love what I do and I do it with a deep commitment and a strong faith, it feels like it was just yesterday that I started. I love to encourage other artistic types to “Dare to Dream”, “Follow your Dream” and “Live your Dream” as an artist. Lately my mission is: The artist in me greets the artist in you, where ever you are on your journey.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am an artist-illustrator. I paint large colorful canvas paintings, watercolors and sketches. I create giclee prints of my work and I write and illustrate books . I am most proud of that I have been a self employed professional artist-illustrator my whole adult life and have traveled the world. I think I’m very good at capturing the essence, feeling, emotion and spirit of places such as San Antonio, Gruene Hall, Rockport, The Hill Country, Italy, France, Spain, and many other countries. Also I’ve dared to dream and continue to risk following the next hunch, insight or whisper of let’s try this? Like coloring in a children’s coloring book just to remember what it was like to play with crayons, colored pencils and to be a grandfather.
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
Ask for help, allow help on your journey, check your bank balances daily, live a financially sober life. Also, life is a journey, sometimes it’s hard, One small step at a time helps me when it’s hard going. Sometimes it’s easy, in the flow, and sometimes it’s OK to ask for help on your journey. It’s also easier doing it together rather than all by yourself.
Pricing:
- $3.50 postcards
- $30 & $60 giclees
- $300+ watercolors
- $4500. paintings
- $61,000. paintings
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.thomricks.com/
