Since he was first able to hold a pencil, Rico Thompson has known exactly what he wanted to do in life and that was to become a professional artist. A native of the Washington, D.C. area, Rico learned early in his childhood that life is not easy and life as an artist could prove even more difficult. Rico is self-taught and began his artistic endeavors drawing super heros and comic book characters as a young boy before devoloping his talents further in high school. In his junior year Rico was commissioned by a local music group to create artwork for their video production.
Rico's photo-realistic style of portraiture is inspired by the works of Nagel, Rockwell, and Michaelangelo. He attributes his realism, attention to detail, and the ability to capture emotion to these great artists respectively. Edward Clay Wright and John Nelson are two more contemporary artists whos work has greatly inspired him. Rico had the opprotunity to meet fellow pencil artist John Nelson early in his career and Nelson told him if he quit his job he would succeed with his artwork. The next day Rico resigned from his position as an Assistant Custom Frame Shop Manager and has never looked back.
Rico is best known for his portraiture but he demonstrates great skill in many areas of artistic discipline. From calligraphy and graphics to decorative painting and interior design, Rico's creative talents seem limitless. Rico's experience in the art industry is vast. Since attending West Virginia State University and later teaching there, he has also taught high school art in the Baltimore and Atlanta areas. he has worked with Sotheby's and Christines New York transporting priceless artifacts and antiques in addition to owning and operating an art gallery himself.
Rico says his passion for art stems from the fact that art saved his life and has always been a part of his life. Art redirected him as a juvinile and as a young adult when he found himself deeply involved in risky behavior. Rico now uses the experiences from those more troubled times together with his art experience to reach young people in the inner city neighborhoods of Philadelphia where he now resides with his wife and daughter. He has served as Art Director for a large non-profit agency where he created entrepreneurial and art programs for all ages. Rico has also worked with the Philadelphia School District using his creative talents to reach disruptive students.
If you are interested in a portrait for a friend or family member or you would like to inquire about other artistic endeavors please contact Rico at ricothompson13@yahoo.com
