About the Artist

Rick Bayers' work can be found in private collections across the United States and Europe. His paintings have been shown at several solo exhibitions throughout St. Louis, including the Ralston Purina Corporate Headquarters gallery of art. Among Bayers' noted subjects is the late Robert Hyland, President of CBS Radio. Mr. Hyland's portrait is part of a permanent collection in the St. Louis Historical Museum in St. Louis, Missouri.

Bayers has painted landscapes across the country, from Brown County, Indiana and its rolling hilltops to the Taos mountains of New Mexico. His landscape work has been noted for its chromatic harmony and affinity to the early American Impressionist artists, reflecting a fluid painterly style while finely balancing realism true to the subject. His diverse subject matter also includes painting still life pieces and portraits featuring prominent corporate executives, regional celebrities, hunting and fishing enthusiasts and children of all ages. The artist's sincere love for and interest in people are his most important attributes. He is passionately driven to expose the inner beauty and spirit of his subjects on the canvas. His patience and comfortable manner also help to reveal the personality and capture the emotions of his clients.

Born in Sparta, Illinois, Bayers currently resides at his country home and studio in Festus, Missouri. He attended Washington University's School of Fine Art in St. Louis, Missouri, where he refined his design and painting skills.

Artist Statement

I wish everyone could experience the sheer happiness and euphoria I have when I paint. Only those who are blessed with this passion can know what I am talking about. I lay excited every night in anticipation, thinking about my paintings. The smell of linseed oil and turpentine is addicting to me.

What's amazing is this sensational feeling is as strong today as it was when I picked up my brush almost 30 years ago. In every one of my paintings you will see, in one form or another, this sincere approach to my work.

I was inspired to paint the American Southwest after visiting Sedona, Arizona and Taos, New Mexico. The land, its skies and its people are magical. I had not seen such incredible colors and experienced a more dramatic landscape as in Arizona and New Mexico. By committing myself to these paintings, I also decided to use a totally new and limited palette of colors. The majority of the paintings were painted using only four colors and white.

The journey also liberated me to work with a more "painterly" approach. I have recently been exposed to, and inspired by, works of some early 20th century American Impressionist painters. These painters were of the well-noted Hoosier Salon, and resided in Brown County, Indiana. Artists such as T.C. Steele, VJ Cariani, Adolph Shulz and Carl Graf introduced me to an impressionistic style that has allowed me to open up my brushwork and seek a more spirited and fluid approach to my work. I also wanted to experience new boundaries by painting large landscapes, forcing broad, dancing brushstrokes, while being true to what nature presented before me.

In the end, the journey has given me a great respect for the Southwest area and landscape painting in general. It has also helped me open up with my style, exploring new colors and enriching my desire and passion to paint.

- Rick Bayers