Rick Ernst Art
Portraits, Paintings & Murals
ABOUT
After attending Columbia College in downtown Chicago, professional artist Rick Ernst has worked on a freelance basis for more than 25 years.
In addition to serving private clients, Rick is also commissioned by numerous commercial customers, including local businesses, community organizations, schools and libraries.
A versatile and dynamic artist, Rick uses a wide array of mediums within his work, including pencil, ink, charcoal, pastel, acrylics and watercolor; landscapes, portraits, abstracts, logos and murals.
Being a fan of music and cinema, Rick has spent the last several years dedicated mostly to drawing celebrity portraits in charcoal and pastel, concentrating on virtually all of pop culture. Commissions for personal portraits of family members, pets and homes have also been a part of Rick’s body of work. “I enjoy the familiarity that invokes an audience’s interest when such subjects as icons Marilyn Monroe or Johnny Cash are featured. There are images that are so ingrained and familiar to people, they immediately relate to it. Whether it’s a feeling of admiration or a childhood memory, the art work represents a time in their life and feelings are uncontrollably associated within.” He explains the intent of each portrait is: “Fooling the eye is always my goal when executing a portrait. I want the viewer to think he/she is looking at a photograph at first glance. Only upon further examination do I want them to realize that they are looking at a drawing rather than a photo due to the detail I’ve included.”
Rick finds great enjoyment working on a large scale as well. Many murals surround the Western suburbs of Chicago are painted by him. Public libraries and grammar schools are where most are located. Whimsical and colorful mascots, U.S. maps and landscapes grace the walls of these institutions.
Recently, a private client wanted Ernst to paint a Chicago Blackhawks mural on a bedroom wall shortly after the team won the 2013 Stanley Cup. Intrigued by the idea, but faced with the reality of the situation, Rick talked the clients into a giant canvas that would rival most walls, and be transportable through the child’s life. Later, when completed, several poster prints of the painting would be sold. Keeping with a Chicago sports theme, Rick has just completed a 26 foot mural of all professional Chicago sports teams including the Chicago Bears, Blackhawks, Bulls, Cubs and White Sox for a private client.
