“I’ve loved open spaces, ranching and the Western adventure my entire life. When I was young, my Uncle Jim owned ranches in California and Idaho where he raised cattle, Quarter Horses and provided me with the vision beyond the concrete and smog of city life. Time shared with Uncle Jim planted the seed of desire that would draw me to the Southwest and lead me to painting the frontier life, disappearing native cultures and the lifestyle of the working cowboy,” says R.S. Riddick.
Ron moved to Arizona in 1979, being inspired by the brilliant light, colorful historic cultures and the old-fashioned Western traditions. It was there he met his wife, Natalie, whose gifts and talents partnered together with his to create a new and wonderful shared vision. With many years in the equine industry, her insights, knowledge and love of ranch life are a constant source of motivation and encouragement.
With heartfelt thanks to a long list of artists for their inspiration, Ron is a dedicated student of art history. “The Creative Spirit journey is like individual streams of water feeding a large river and filling a greater lake; each drop of history can sharpen our skill and nurture our talent along the way.” His personal style and blend of realism and colorism through classical painting techniques finds fulfilment in the rich and diverse subject matter in the great American West.
“I became a member of this legendary artistic family of CA in 1997 and sincerely credit this opportunity to aim at the highest excellence and quality. This organization challenges me to a closer reflection on the vast story of art’s influence and revelation of history itself.”
Ron has had the honor of receiving numerous Gold and Silver awards for his paintings, water solubles and drawings at CAA exhibitions as well as other national museum shows across the country.
Ron and Natalie split their time between their ranches in Tucson, Arizona, and Columbia Falls, Montana.