Rick Reynolds

Rick Reynolds is an artist whose paintings express a passion for color and contrast. At an early age, he suffered from kidney failure and while it curbed his athleticism and physicality, it channelled his passions toward things creative. Years later, Reynolds began painting Expressionistic subjects using oils and brushes but was soon painting pure abstracts using surgical gloves. "In general, you won't find a strong narrative at work because I prefer the power of suggestion over the literal. I put the paintings through a trial of color tests, musings, and sketches, constantly pushing the original idea to see if it holds up under a 'stress test'. After a long gestation period I generally paint fast, mixing paint directly on canvas. The start of a painting is thrilling, when I abandon formed ideas and allow the authority of process to breathe life into the painting. I believe contrast is a key feature of our existence and you find this expressed in nearly all the work." In some cases, there is an absence of contrast. Orange #9 is strictly tonal and textural. "I was striving for tonal harmony and pure joy. Acrylics allow layering in short bursts, which is the principal reason I use it, but I prefer the buttery feel of oils which are easy to work and re-work."

The Silk paintings are viewed on a large light box. The quality of chamoise silk infused with light gives the paintings a wonderful, dreamy quality. Layering thin washes of acrylic on raw silks can be a herd of accidents so planning and execution is crucial because the effect is lost when the pigment becomes opaque. "But planning is sometimes a waste of time so you go on instinct and let the process take over. With the silks I try to create a visual experience that constantly changes and reveals itself."

The Digitals are whimsical experiments combining acrylic painting with digital photography and effects.

Reynolds studied Classical Techniques in portrait and life drawing with a master Realist, Lance Richlin. "I've always been a fan of Rodin's sculptures and share his love of the human form, exquisitely rendered. My next chapter is to combine realism with my skills as an abstract artist to create a more powerful experience."

Reynolds is a native Californian, born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, studied chemical engineering and earned a degree in English Literature at University of California, Santa Barbara, and currently lives in Los Angeles where he divides his time between art and his work as a post-production executive on feature films. "Motion pictures are widely considered the greatest art form today but creating a successful painting is one of the purest forms of expression, for me. And painting takes days and weeks, not seasons and years, and you don't need a crew of 200."

Reynolds has shown in Los Angeles and his works are collected in Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, and Europe.

EXHIBITIONS:

2008, 2007 Private art salon, Hollywood, CA
2003, 2002, 2001 Don O’Melveny Gallery, West Hollywood, CA
2000 Jay Spence Studio Gallery, West Hollywood, CA
2000 Reynolds / Metzger 2 man private show, Beverly Hills, CA

PRIVATE COLLECTORS:

Jon Riccardi
Paul Prokop
Rick Ash
Susan Schabinger
Steven Mrkulic
Richard Ford
Helene Reynolds
Kevin Tent and Carole Brogdon
Aaron Zigman