
- [email protected]
- http://www.ricklarimore.com/
Rick Larimore
I studied art at Parkland College, in Champaign, Illinois for two years after my graduation from Urbana High School. I took classes there with Juanita Gammon and Larry Bell. During high school and while at Parkland, I worked for Frank Gallo finishing epoxy resin sculptures.
After Parkland, I went to Ohio University, where I studied with woodcarver, David Hostetler as well as with conceptual artist, Ernie Whitworth. Unfortunately, school and I grew tired of each other and I left there after two quarters.
In fall of 2012 I took a carving class with Chris Pye.
I spent several years doing my own epoxy pieces; landscaping, and tree work; and in 1976 married my current (and wonderful) wife Cloydia. In 1978, we had a daughter Rachel and bought a small farm northeast of Charleston, Illinois where I raised vegetables for sale at local farmers’ markets. After eight years, we moved back to Urbana and I rented acreage from Frank Gallo and raised and sold produce for another seven years.
I went back to school at Eastern Illinois University in botany and then worked as a wetland ecologist at the Illinois Natural History Survey for fifteen years before retiring two years ago to return to doing sculpture, this time, so far, in wood. I may return to clay or other media sometime but for now I am really enjoying working in wood. I enjoy the creative process sometimes letting the wood dictate the final form and sometimes working an idea into the wood. Bringing out the beauty of the wood is a pleasure. I am very excited about my new opportunity to do sculpture!
I split my time between our residence in Urbana, Illinois and our rural residence/studio north of Fairmount, Illinois where I enjoy hiking, fishing, and hunting as well as doing sculpture. We have a large garden and spend time managing our natural areas along the Salt Fork River. Much of the wood I sculpt comes from our woodlands there.
VENUE
Tom Brewer Gallery
Tom Brewer Gallery/Studio has been in place since 2010 and was formally Griggs St. Pottery. For the past 4 years it has been an active clay studio and gallery representing my work and collections of various artists and has hosted several music sessions. It is one of the few privately owned brick and mortar art spaces in the CU area.