Artist’s Statement
I am a Colorado native who has worked with watercolor, pastel, acrylic and oil media, as well as multimedia sculpture. My focus for the past several years has been on oil painting, with a wide variety of subject matter including landscapes, cityscapes, vehicles, and various artifacts. Though I am inspired by a wide range of subjects, each subject must have the potential for: a design statement; strong and diverse colors and values; and a variety of painting techniques. Perhaps most importantly, I want a subject that will challenge me in some new way, will contribute to my knowledge of the art and craft of painting, and will allow me ample opportunity to express my own interpretation of the subject.
My sculptures use clay, wood, paper mache, and mixed media to form a variety of subjects. I have sculpted life-size figures of a 1950s carhop and a 1950s gas station attendant, along with large-scale sculptures of a rocket ship, 1950s cars and vintage signs. A few of my recent sculptures have been joint efforts with my wife, who works in tile and glass mosaic.
Since becoming a professional artist in 1998, I have exhibited in more than 150 juried shows and have received 39 awards in local, state, national and international exhibits, including six “Best of Show” awards. Please visit www.wicksart.com to view more than a hundred of my paintings and sculptures.
Selected Recent Juried Exhibitions (since 2020)
Oil Painters of America (OPA) National Exhibition: 2025 (Bradenton, FL)
Oil Painters of America (OPA) Western Regional Exhibitions: 2025 (Philipsburg, MT); 2024 (Prescott, AZ); 2023 (Salt Lake City, UT); and 2020 (virtual exhibit due to Covid)
National Oil Painters of America (NOAPS) “Best of America” International Juried Exhibition: 2024 (Birmingham, AL)
National Oil and Acrylic Painters Society (NOAPS) “Best of America Small Works” National Juried Exhibitions: 2025 (Cincinnati, OH); 2023 (Boulder, CO); and 2022 (Birmingham, AL)
National Oil and Acrylic Painters Society (NOAPS) “Spring International Online Exhibition”: 2024
National Oil and Acrylic Painters Society (NOAPS) Online Member Only Exhibits: 2022 and 2021
Governor’s Art Show Exhibitions (Colorado): 2023 and 2024 (Loveland CO)
Richeson 75 International Online Exhibition: 2024
Selected Recent Awards (since 2020)
National Oil and Acrylic Painters Society (NOAPS): 2021 (Merit Award, Online Members Only Exhibition)
Richeson 75: 2024 (Meritorious Selection Award, International Online Exhibition)
Art & Color 365 Magazine Special Merit Awards: Spring 2025 Issue and Fall 2024 Issue
Art & Color 365 Magazine Artistic Recognition Awards: Summer 2024 Issue and Spring 2024 Issue
Selected Recent Publications (since 2020)
Art & Color 365 Magazine: Spring 2025 Issue (Landscapes/Seascapes); Fall 2024 Issue (Artist Choice Competition); Summer 2024 Issue (Still Life Competition); and Spring 2024 Issue (Watercolor Competition)
Journal of the Society for Commercial Archeology: Spring 2025 Issue (vintage sign paintings and sculptures)
Signature Memberships
Colorado Watercolor Society (Signature Member)
Western Federation of Watercolor Societies (Master Signature Member)
Rocky Mountain National Watermedia Society (Signature Member)