“I love painting everything. I get great satisfaction from painting an adobe wall. There’s so much to see in a wall like that. Just as much as in the Grand Canyon.” —Rick Kersten

RICK KERSTEN
Painter
Artist Rick Kersten combines a love of color, architecture and dramatic scenery to create energetic paintings of the Southwest.

A native of Wisconsin, he studied art at Arizona State University. Then, with the advent of the Vietnam War, he entered the U.S. Navy and proceeded to paint life as he saw it in Vietnam, the Philippines, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Japan.

Back in the States, Kersten worked at various advertising agencies around Phoenix, then formed a successful greeting card company with his brother.

For the past five years he has done what he loves best, painting the Southwest in a style he calls “simple expressionism—a direct style where detail takes a back seat.”

“I love how the Southwest landscape contains broad areas of power, shape and color, and how these areas play off each other in such connective, surprising ways,” says Kersten. “I’m also drawn to the beach colors of Mexico and the mountains of Telluride.”

He begins most paintings on location, taking photos or doing quick sketches in pastel to capture light and color. He then works up the painting in his studio, using  oil or acrylic paints.

Collectors have taken notice of his paintings. “The simplicity of his architectural forms and color are wonderful,” comments Robert Mancaro, a Mexico City client.

Another client, Clark George of Eureka, Missouri, appreciates the artist’s work for its “originality, color balance and extraordinary execution.”

The artist owns Kersten Gallery in Scotts-dale, where he shows his work. He also is exhibiting at the 2009 Celebration of Fine Art in Scottsdale through March 29.

His artwork has been published under license in 14 countries.

He reflects, “It was clear to me from a very young age that I just wanted to create
things—paintings, sculpture, greeting cards, murals, anything. I truly love what I do.”