Governor's Gallery
Through the Eye of the Artist: The Landscape
by
Rick McClure
March 30 thru May 29, 2006
When
viewing Through the Eye of the Artist: The Landscape
by Rick McClure,
we are summoned to new places where beauty is the sole concern. McClure’s
admiration for the landscape is evident when gazing upon his canvases.
An award winning “Plein Aire” painter and teacher, McClure
has been painting professionally for more than 25 years.
Plein Aire is a French term that means a style of painting produced out of doors in natural light. Impressionist painters such as Camille Pissarro and Edouard Manet were some of the first painters to employ the Plein Aire techniques in which the artist would paint outdoors, capturing every flicker of fleeting light. McClure’s paintings are infused with the techniques of European Impressionists and elements of the natural environment.
Whether he is painting the wonderment of our Oklahoma land or the
classic beauty of old world Italy, McClure’s impeccable gift
for capturing the exquisiteness of the outdoors saturates his canvasses
to the delight of the viewer.
“My sincerest hope is that upon introspection, the viewer will gain a greater appreciation for the beauty that is our world,” states McClure. From an early age, Oklahoman Rick McClure’s talent as an artist was evident. The genesis of his professional career began when McClure was just a junior in high school and an out of state collector purchased an entire exhibit of McClure’s work.
McClure was awarded an art scholarship to Southwestern Oklahoma State
University and he continued with postgraduate studies in painting from
North Texas State University and postgraduate studies in sculpture
from the University of Central Oklahoma. McClure dedicated twenty years
to teaching art at the high school level.
He has participated in group and solo exhibitions throughout the United States. McClure has earned many accolades for his work including Best of Show from the Cincinnati Art Club and The Leila Gardin Sawyer Memorial Award from the Salmagundi Club in New York City.
Sponsored by the Oklahoma Arts Council. For more information contact Scott Cowan or Karen Sharp at 405.521.2931 or scott@arts.ok.gov
Past Governor's Gallery Exhibits