Rick Hunt brings 'In the Blues' to Southern California

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Artist Rick Hunt is set to bring his first collection to Southern California with his ‘In the Blues’ exhibit.  A native of New Hampshire, Hunt has been actively painting from a young age.  Rick spent his teenage years studying art with Kenneth Westhaver, both privately and as one of his students at Franconia College in New Hampshire, where he was the youngest student in the College's history. Later, he attended Massachusetts College of Art in Boston, majoring in illustration. He also attended Lesley University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, obtaining a degree in psychology. After working more than 20 years as a counselor, Rick has returned to his true passion – art.

‘Growing up, art was an escape for me’, says Rick Hunt.  ‘I found solace in my artwork, and I was able to create a world of greater interest than that which surrounded me.’

Hunt’s line drawings are a fluid narrative that has earned him a great deal of attention nationwide, including being chosen by ARTnews Magazine as an artist on the rise at the ‘New Artists’ exhibition at Madison Square Garden, NYC.  His works are a reflection of his personal psychology, as well as a melding of his visual and musical artistic influences.  ‘Jackson Pollock taught me how to dance with the pen’, says Hunt.  ‘Jasper Johns taught me to take an object, add something to it, then add something else.  While musician and performance artist Laurie Anderson instilled in me to love it when many things happen at once.’

Hunt’s free-flowing storytelling mirrors past experiences with a crisp recollection. 

Over the years, he has had several one-man art exhibits throughout New England, New York and Ottawa, Ontario. Hunt has exhibited his works throughout museums in the United Sates and Canada, including the Abbe Museum in Bar Harbor, Maine where he has co-curated exhibits.  He has also had several of his works published in books and most recently used as the cover art for Birds of Paradox’s new self-titled album.

Rick Hunt’s new collection will be on display exclusively at Santos Fine Art Gallery in Encinitas, CA from 1–30 November 2012.  A special artist reception is scheduled for November 10, 2012 from 6-10 p.m. at Santos Fine Art Gallery, 978 N Coast Highway, Encinitas, CA.  For more info, gallery telephone# 760.633.1644, and online at SantosFineArtGalleries.com