Rick McClure: Traveling with the Artist

RICK McCLURE Traveling with the Artist June 8th-27th

Traveling with the Artist The American West

“Half Dome Fall” (Sierra Nevada, California) 20” x 20” oil $2800 This granite dome that lies at the eastern end of Yosemite Valley has been the subject of countless great landscape paintings. I was drawn to the contrast of the warm fall foliage against the cool blue violets of the dome, and in an effort to avoid painting the stereotypical Half Dome portrait, I made the decision to let the warm foliage take center stage.

Traveling with the Artist The American West

“Yosemite Summer” (Sierra Nevada, California) 24” x 32” oil $5300 Yosemite National Park has provided inspiration for landscape painters for generations, and although it is difficult to capture its splendor on canvas I had to try. I chose to limit the detail in the massive rock formations in order to convey the immensity of this grand, national treasure.

Traveling with the Artist The American West

“Haviland Lake Autumn” (Durango, Colorado) 24” x 36” oil $5900 Haviland Lake lies north of Durango, Colorado and provides a variety of inspirational subject matter. This painting was developed from a small plein air study I created during a workshop I was teaching in the Durango area. Autumn in Colorado is hard to beat when looking for painting inspiration.

Traveling with the Artist The American West

“Young Aspen Stand” (Cuchara, Colorado) 16” x 12” oil $1350 One of my favorite locations to paint and gather reference is along Highway 12, which runs northeast from Trinidad, Colorado. I found this small stand of young aspen trees just off the winding road up to Bear Lake near Cuchara. I often find it refreshing to paint something comprised of a more intimate view and this little group of trees fit the bill perfectly.

Traveling with the Artist The American West

“Mountain Summer Song” (Pagosa Springs, Colorado) 8” x 10” oil $575 After a day of teaching a plein air workshop in Pagosa Springs, I took some “me time” and painted this little plein air study. Generally these studies form the basis for larger studio works but with this little gem I chose to let it speak for itself.

Traveling with the Artist The American West

“Rocky Mountain National Park En Plein Air” (Colorado) 6” x 8” oil $375 When gathering reference material, I will generally paint 4 to 6 small studies per day. In order to do this, the paintings must be as small as 6” x 8”. This small study painted in Rocky Mountain National Park is one of 4 I created one summer day.

Traveling with the Artist The American West

“Winter Has Arrived” (Raton, New Mexico) 24” x 28” oil $4600 Although the majority of my paintings are developed from scenes I come across when gathering reference, I often draw inspiration from feelings that have no specific place in time.

In this painting I wanted to capture that cold, empty feeling of winter where only a small pond of water had yet to freeze over.

Traveling with the Artist The Midwest

“West Wilshire Relic” (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma) 18” x 24” oil $2950 When we are fortunate to get a little snow here in Oklahoma City, I rush out to find something close by to paint. I found these old barns west of town near Wilshire and Banner Road and although this subject may not hold the fascination of a European landscape, it was still a joy to paint.

Traveling with the Artist The Midwest

“Middle Class Snow” (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma) 16” x 20” $2200 As a college art student I carried a note card in my paint box that read “Simplicity Is The Key To Design” and I have always made an effort to incorporate that thought in my work. This painting of a small snow covered house reflects that effort and left me quite pleased with the result. The addition of the orange water cooler on the front porch adds a little spark of color and some reality to the scene.

Traveling with the Artist The South

“Asheville Winter” (Asheville, North Carolina) 30” x 40” oil $8200 Like many of my large studio paintings, this subject was developed from a rather small on-location study executed in the area north of Asheville. Although it was early winter when I found this subject, I took the liberty of adding copious amounts of cool snow to enhance the contrast with the red barns.

Traveling with the Artist The South

“Backwoods Winter” (Asheville, North Carolina) 24” x 30” oil $4900 I have made numerous trips to the East Coast for exhibitions at galleries that carry my work.

One of my favorite areas to stop and rest on the way is in the Asheville, North Carolina area.

I make it a priority to spend a day or two exploring the back roads where I often find charming old barns and structures to paint. Sadly, subjects of this nature are getting harder to find each and every trip.

Traveling with the Artist The South

“Backwater” (Cary, North Carolina ) 12” x 24” oil $1975 Many of my painting ideas are inspired by locations found while teaching plein air workshops. This painting titled “Backwater” was developed in the studio from a small study done during one of my workshops just outside of Cary. Fortunately, the workshop coordinator had arranged a beautiful location on private property with a charming little pond on it.

Traveling with the Artist Europe

“Windmills of Kinderdijk” (South Holland, Netherlands) 18” x 28” oil $3500 The windmill complex of Kinderdijk lies in South Holland, Netherlands and was built in 1738-1740. From a painter’s perspective, the shape and stature of these magnificent historic structures are both a challenge and a joy to paint. In the end, I was quite pleased with my effort in capturing the sense of place and time.

Traveling with the Artist Europe

“Balestrino Excerpt” (Genoa, Italy) 18” x 24” oil $2950 Located 43 miles southwest of Genoa Italy, Balestrino is composed of the old historic town up on the hill, and the new town below it. Abandoned in 1953 for geological instability, the old centre is now a ghost town whereas the modern center is still inhabited today. Capturing the feeling of the old structures perched precariously on the rock hill in the warm Italian sun was my motivation for this painting.

Traveling with the Artist Europe

“Tuscan Home” (Tuscany, Italy) 20” x 30” oil $4100 Being married to a beautiful lady of Italian decent has its advantages. A couple of years ago my wife and her sister journeyed to Italy to explore their family origins and returned with some photo reference for me to explore on canvas. Although I have painted and taught workshops in France I have yet to visit Italy. This painting is the result of inspiration she brought home to me.

“My sincerest hope is that upon introspection, the viewer will gain a greater appreciation for the beauty that is our world.� ~ R. McClure

In 2004 Southwest Art Magazine hailed Rick McClure as an artist to watch, and the art world has been looking ever since! Even so, a wide audience of longtime devotees already embraced the artist and his talent. His recognition and achievements come as the fruit of long, hard work. An award-winning plein air painter and a dedicated teacher, Rick McClure has been painting professionally for more than forty years.

Born in Raton, New Mexico in 1954, Rick McClure is largely identified with Oklahoma where he received his education and where he continues to live and work. He is embraced as a native son, honored with his work hanging in the Oklahoma State Capitol Art Collection. He found quick affirmation of his talent when, as a high school junior, an out-of-state collector purchased an entire exhibit of his work. Awarded an art scholarship to Southwestern Oklahoma State University, Rick McClure graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. He continued his studies with postgraduate work in painting from North Texas State University and in sculpture from the University of Central Oklahoma. In addition, he enrolled in Plein Air Master Class Studies with Charles Sovek as well as Eric Michaels.

Mr. McClure has captured numerous awards including those at the “American Impressionists Society National Exhibition, the “71st Grand National Exhibition at the Salmagundi Club” and the Best of Show at the “Cincinnati Art Club’s ViewPoint Exhibition.

His free, painterly approach to recording locations in America and abroad has become popular with collectors nationwide.

Rick McClure’s rich art works capture the essence and life of a landscape. One admiring observer saluted his fresh approach to a popular medium and familiar subject:“His love for painting on location has proven very popular with collectors and many find his little excerpts from nature to be a refreshing approach to representational landscape painting. Confronting nature and the public on location enables McClure to produce works that are fresh,spontaneous, and as Charles Movalli states, “more akin to sushi than fried fish.”

Rick McClure has been awarded Signature Memberships in the Oil Painters of America, the National Academy of Professional Plein Air Painters and the American Impressionist Society. His work is part of numerous corporate and private collections and he currently divides his time between painting, travel, and teaching.

His plein air workshops throughout the United States are popularly attended by beginner and seasoned artists alike.

6432 North Western Avenue Oklahoma City, OK 73116 405-840-4437 in-person viewing of this show is Available by appointment. Please call or email THE GALLERY to schedule a time (405-840-4437 or Laura@howellgallery.com).

www.howellgallery.com