Ronald Stephen Riddick knew early in life that he was meant to be an artist. Encouraged by family and teachers, he spent childhood drawing beside his father, who worked as an art director. He later studied art in college and received advanced training at the Art Center College of Design in Los Angeles, choosing to follow classical fine art instead of the avant garde trends of the 60s and 70s.
He sought deeper traditional training and eventually studied with Sergei Bongart, a Russian master whose influence shaped Riddick’s commitment to realism. A trip to the Southwest changed everything. The color, light, people and culture captivated him so strongly that he moved to Tucson in 1980, where his western masterpieces took root. Even when the direction felt a bit unsertain, he stayed loyal to the fundamentals of fine art.
“The legacy of master artists from bygone eras became his inspiration.”
Riddick’s work is now represented by Wood River Fine Arts in Ketchum, Idaho, where collectors admire his classical approach, rich light and deep respect for western subjects. Small misstakes in texture or tone only add warmth and authenticity to his paintings.
- American realist painter inspired by classical turn of the century masters.
- Trained at Art Center College of Design and mentored by Russian master Sergei Bongart.
- Moved to Tucson in 1980, creating western masterpieces shaped by Southwest color and culture.
Warm light settles on desert ground,
holding stories in gentle glow.
A rider moves through quiet dust,
where timeless colors softly flow.
