About Rick Becker

Inspiration for my landscapes is drawn from the Karoo. There is something about the Karoo that resonates with my soul. The vast space, crisp skies, unusual rock formations and “koppies”, coupled with the solitude of the area enable one to find rest from the hectic and often destructive way of life considered the ‘norm’. The sky is God’s canvas, and the colours you will often see during a Karoo sunset seem surreal; hue’s of oranges, pinks, greens, purples and reds combine in one sunset ignoring all art- schools rules of colour combinations. There are so many images apart from the natural beauty of the area that I find appealing - farm houses, simple labourer’s cottages, a windmill, a rusty wreck, washing hanging on a barbed wire fence etc.

My abstract pieces differ in style and execution. Some are geometric, clinical, painted smoothly and usually planned to some extent. Others are very spontaneous; the paint sometimes applied thickly with a palette knife. Alternatively I allow the paint to run, and will use diverse methods and tools to create a specific piece. Often I will end up with a piece that I had no intention of painting, and am just as surprised at the end result as anyone else. In fact I feel like a spectator in the process. Images are there: waiting to be recognized and that is exciting. Passion must precede technical perfection, for it is easier to have the first and acquire the latter, than vice versa. For that reason, I try to remain true to myself there are days when I simply cannot paint, and if I do, the artwork will acquaint itself with the blade of an axe. However, when “it’s happening” and the inspiration is there, nothing else matters at that moment in time.

RICK

Exhibitions

 

Corporate Collections

 

Rick Becker CV

Born in Pretoria in 1963

Matriculated in 1981

Obtained BA degree with Honours in Theology in 1988

A self-taught artist, who started painting full-time in 1989

First solo exhibition: Sanlam Centre, Pretoria, 1989

Second solo exhibition: Benmore Gallery, Johannesburg

Since then, numerous solo and joint exhibitions throughout South Africa In 1990, he was invited to participate in a joint exhibition and art workshop in De Bron, Holland. He continued to live and paint in Holland for 6 months and during this time focused on commissioned abstract pieces. Upon returning to South Africa, he moved to Cape Town and apart from painting was involved in other art forms such as ceramics and designing. His preferred medium – oils/acrylics on stretched canvas.

Rick now lives and paints from his studio in Walmer, Port Elizabeth. He is currently studying for his masters degree in Theology. He is married to Carrie, and they have 2 children, Roxanne (15) and Matt (12).