This week’s featured artist: Ric Conn, member since 2000:
ME: My artistic career began at age 5 with my first freehand drawings. When I placed first an apple then my hand in the sunlight on the table intending to draw them and discovered light and shadow—my passion for figurative art began.
My awards include the “Face of Queen Anne’s County” medal, First, Second, Third and Best in Show awards as well as numerous Honorable Mention awards and Award of Merit certificates. I have been featured in articles in several newspapers and magazines, and interviewed on local and network television.
I have had solo and group shows in Baltimore, Columbia, Annapolis, Frederick, Washington, D.C., Stevensville, Centreville and Chelsea, New York City. My paintings are in private collections in several states and Australia.
I studied at the Corcoran College of Art in Washington, D.C. and the Maryland Institute College of Art. I currently live and work on Kent Island, just off the eastern shore of Maryland. Please visit my website at http://ricconn.com.
MY ART: My work is expressionistic with a modern edge; it focuses on the spark of sensuality. Every pose has its own certain something that appeals to the senses, which is my subject.
My face paintings are not portraits. I focus on the face as the subject. I have always been fascinated by facial features. The eyes, nose, mouth and skin are incredibly fascinating, so much personality in each feature. To me, the story is in the face. Emotions revealed in the face are ultimately what I want to capture, and correctly painting the facial features is what keeps me fascinated.
My figure paintings evolve from my face paintings, as the body accentuates the expressions and emotions born on the face. The body brings its own challenges to the canvas and is an integral to the overall story.
MFA & ME: I have been a member of MFA for more than a decade and it has been a very rewarding experience, always a welcoming and helpful atmosphere. It is a wonderful venue that offers a wide variety of member and national gallery shows, opportunities for solo shows and it offers a unique opportunity for interacting with other artists.
Spread the word about…YOU: Every week, we feature an MFA member for “Me & My Art Monday.” If you would like to be featured, please submit a photo and three paragraphs: one each about YOU, YOUR ART, and MFA & YOU totaling approximately 350 words, to meandmyart@mdfedart.org
