Ric is a retired Air Force pilot, a former airline pilot and a retired Airline Operations Inspector with the Federal Aviation Administration. He has a background and a degree in art, and has been winning local and national awards in various art media throughout the years since high school.
Ric currently focuses on wood as his media of choice and he has been woodturning since 1999. He is a member of several local and national artistic woodworking organizations as well as art leagues and societies, including being a signature member of the National Society of Artists. He enjoys opening up a piece of wood and revealing a surface that has never been seen by anyone, sometimes plain and sometimes beautiful. Always trying to see the potential in each piece of wood, some of his most interesting pieces have been made from wood that has been discarded by other turners as unusable. Many of his pieces are in private collections throughout the country.
Some of his most recent events and awards include:
2014
30th Annual National Society of Artists Juried Exhibition – Honorable Mention
2015
Juried in to the 14th annual “Art Inter/National Here and Abroad” exhibit, BoxHeart Gallery, Pittsburgh
National Society of Artists Members Exhibit – First Place
Juried in to the 34th annual “Design in Wood Exhibition”, Del Mar, California, Second Place and Third Place
Juried in to the 13th Annual Small Wonders Exhibit, Maryland Federation of Art, Circle Gallery, Annapolis
Juried in to the Arts & Crafts Design Awards 2015 (Germany)
2016
NICHE Award winner
Juried in to the 15th annual ”Art Inter/National Here and Abroad” exhibit, BoxHeart Gallery, Pittsburgh
Juried in to the 35th annual “Design in Wood Exhibition”, Del Mar, California, Honorable Mention
Juried in to the ""Turning Point: Wood Turning's Evolution from Ancient Craft to Fine Art" at the Pearl Fincher Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
Juried in to the National Society of Artists National Exhibition, Second Place
2017
Juried in to the 36th annual “Design in Wood Exhibition”, Del Mar, California, Award Winner
Invited in to the “Small Treasures 2017” Exhibition with the Wood Symphony Gallery, Los Angeles
Juried in to the “Vessels” Exhibition of the Susquehanna Art Museum
Juried in to the “Blue” Exhibition of the Sebastopol Center for the Arts in California
General Finishes 2017 Design Challenge Award Winner
2018
Juried in to the national "Artistry in Wood 2018" at the Museums of Sonoma in California, two Awards of Excellence
Invited in to the "Small Treasures 2018" Exhibition with the Wood Symphony Gallery, Los Angeles
Juried in to the 16th Annual "Small Wonders Exhibition," Maryland Federation of Art, Circle Gallery, Annapolis
2019
Juried in to the 38th annual “Design in Wood Exhibition”, Del Mar, California, Award Winner
Juried in to the 17th Annual "Small Wonders Exhibition," Maryland Federation of Art, Circle Gallery, Annapolis
Juror's Award, 20th Anniversary "Works in Wood" Exhibition, New Hope Gallery, New Hope, Pennsylvania
Juried in to the national "Artistry in Wood 2019" at the Museums of Sonoma in California, Merit Award
Invited in to the "Art of Giving" Exhibition with the Wood Symphony Gallery, Los Angeles
2020
Juried in to the "Master Woodworking Artist of the Year" exhibition at the Forest Heritage Center, award winner
Juried in to the Yellowstone 52 Art Auction and Gala at the Yellowstone Art Museum
Invited in to the "Favorite Things" exhibition at the Sebastopol Center for the Arts
Juried in to ""Tiny But Mighty II" national exhibition at d"Arts Center, Norfolk, VA
Juried in to "Against the Grain" national exhibition at Jacoby Arts Center, Alton. IL
Juried in to the "Small Wonders 2020 Exhibition," Maryland Federation of Art, Circle Gallery, Annapolis
2021
Juried in to the "CAL National 2021 Invitational" exhibition in Texas, First Place award
Juried in to the "Creativity in Captivity: Responses to Covid 19" exhibition, Kauffman Gallery, Shippensburg University, award winner
Juried in to the "Monochrome" exhibition at 311 Gallery in Raleigh
Invited in to the "Small Treasures 2021" Exhibition with the Wood Symphony Gallery, Los Angeles
Juried in to the True Blue international exhibition at Art Fluent gallery in Boston
Juried in to the "Artistry in Wood 2021" exhibition at the Museums of Sonoma in California, awarded Best Turning and Award of Excellence
Invited in to the "Art of Giving 2021 Exhibition" with the Wood Symphony Gallery, Los Angeles
2022
Juried in to the "2022 Design in Wood Exhibition”, Del Mar, California, Award Winner
Invited in to the "Art of Giving 2022" exhibition with the Wood Symphony Gallery, Los Angeles
Invited in to the "Turned and Sculpted Wood" exhibition with the Wood Symphony Gallery, Los Angeles
Juried in to the "Artistry in Wood 2022" exhibition at the Museums of Sonoma in California, awarded Best Turning
2023
Juried in to the "Artistry in Wood 2023" exhibition at the Museums of Sonoma in California, awarded Best Turning
Invited in to the "Art of Giving 2023" exhibition with the Wood Symphony Gallery, Los Angeles
Invited in to the "Small Treasures 2023" Exhibition with the Wood Symphony Gallery, Los Angeles
Juried in to the "Works in Wood" Exhibition, New Hope Gallery, New Hope, Pennsylvania
2024
Juried in to the "2024 Design in Wood Exhibition”, Del Mar, California, second place award
Invited in to the "Turned and Sculpted Wood 2024" exhibition with the Wood Symphony Gallery, Los Angeles
Juried in to the "Off the Wall 2024 Exhibition," Maryland Federation of Art, Circle Gallery, Annapolis
Several Best of Show awards at smaller events
Special friends who have helped and inspired during the journey: Jerry Bennett, Andy Chen, Jimmy Clewes,, Clyde Collier, Greg Gonsalves, Dave Mueller, Ed Peine, Kendall Westbrook
