Explorations

Thomas E. Ricks

Hill Atrium

Georgia Center for Continuing Education

University of Georgia

Athens, Georgia

August 2004

       This retrospective represents a collection of my artistic explorations.  Over time I have experimented with various motifs and mediums as I strive to discover how my love of making art can best be articulated.  I am fascinated with that which makes life rich and meaningful and intrigued by the very thought of existence.  I believe the creation and appreciation of good art helps expand our souls and takes us a step closer to the divine.  Explorations invites the viewer to survey realms previously unexplored.

Biography of Thomas E. Ricks

       Tom’s artistic career began when he was three years old with drawings of cucumber-like forms. By the time he reached middle school he was working with cartoons (which were published in the school newspaper and yearbook) and fantasy art.  With training in high school, he began exploring watercolor, realistic pencil drawings, and fine art.  It was during this period that he began to receive various awards for his works. In college, he had the opportunity to explore various types of mediums, but always returned to his favorites: watercolors mixed with the creativity of his own mind.

        Tom was born and raised in San Jose, California and also has an interest in biology, books, and creative writing.  He has a sculpture hanging at Evergreen Valley Community College at San Jose, California and has completed various commissioned works of patriotic scenes. His art also appeared in a class exhibit at the Harris Fine Arts Center at Brigham Young University, at Provo, Utah, where he also received an under-graduate degree in Math Education and a minor in Art Education.

       Tom has taught cartooning at a local community education center, has an interest in creating children’s books, and has completed several drafts which he plans to submit for possible publication.  He is currently completing his doctorate at the University of Georgia in Math Education. 

       His art has appeared in two juried art shows: the state-wide Spring Salon at the Springville Utah Art Museum and the 2003 Freedom Festival Art Show held at Provo, Utah. 

Explorations was Tom’s first one-man show.