Nancy Ray Ricciardi

Sonoma County Landscapes, Rivers & Marshes

  • Art for Kids
  • Landscapes
  • Water
  • Travel
  • Dragons
  • Commissions
  • Contact

Artist Statement

My earliest motivation for making art was escape - but that turned into love.

I have always felt most grounded in nature. Even my own small garden affords my communion with the Whole and, somehow, painting allows me to give voice to this. As with the great artist Henri Matisse, I strive to convey peace and beauty.

Although I am a studio painter, my process begins in the field with my camera. The resulting photos are not meant as art of themselves but as sketches which help to stimulate my imagination. The paintings I create are more about my response to the landscape than the actual fields and ponds I've recorded.

Art is an essential part of Being. Making art and understanding art - these things are necessary to the whole person.

Life is demanding. We have precious little time to lose ourselves on inner journeys. Sometimes, being able to stop for just a moment to stand before a work of art - whether simple, humorous, realistic, or abstract - can be enough to recharge the spirit, rearrange our perspective, and lead us more calmly back to the challenges at hand. My art is meant to represent a quiet moment, a peaceful interlude.

My work allows me the opportunity to escape into reality, away from the decidedly abstract world. It is not meant to be photographically accurate, it is an interpretation of natural truth. Even the energy of fast moving water should inspire an interlude of quiet reflection.

"Leaving space for silence is something that should be valued but isn't in today's world."
-- Herbert Baglione, 2009

Prints and Cards

Giclee prints and cards are available for all pieces appearing on my website. Please contact me for pricing details.

Steele Head Beach

November 2, 2020

Steele Head Beach

Steele Head Beach
48″ x 30″
Acrylic on Canvas

Big Island Breaker

November 1, 2020

Big Island Breaker

Big Island Breaker
Green Sands Beach, Hawaii
20″ x 20″
Acrylic on Canvas

Juxtaposed

October 31, 2020

Juxtaposed

Juxtaposed
24″ x 24″
Acrylic on Canvas

River Reflections

October 30, 2020

River Reflections

River Reflections
30″ x 30″
Acrylic on Canvas

Forget Me Not

October 29, 2020

Forget Me Not

Forget Me Not
12″ x 24″
Acrylic on Canvas

The Fishing Hole

October 28, 2020

The Fishing Hole

The Fishing Hole
Bryce Canyon, Utah
18″ x 24″
Acrylic on Canvas

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About the Artist

Nancy Ray Ricciardi Portrait

Nancy Ray Ricciardi has been has been painting and teaching art in Sonoma County for over 30 years. She has been a member of the Sonoma County ARTrails Open Studio Tour since 1999 and shows regularly at many local venues including Quercia Gallery, Sebastopol Center for the Arts, Dutton-Goldfield Winery, Graton Gallery, Sprint Copy Center, O'Hanlon Center for the Arts, Occidental Center for the Arts, and Screamin' Mimi's. Her work has been shown at the de Young Museum S.F., and can be found in corporate and private collections across the United States.

Shows & Events

  • Art Trails Open Studio Tour
    September 18-19 and 25-26, 2021
    10 AM - 5 PM

Artwork

  • Art for Kids
  • Commissions
  • Dragons
  • Landscapes
  • Travel
  • Water

Copyright © Nancy Ray Ricciardi · All Rights Reserved
The use of any image from this website is prohibited unless prior written permission from the artist is obtained.