Rick Sharp's passion for art is rooted in its fundamental therapeutic qualities. He says, "When you see a beautiful piece of art, it can soothe or help heal you." He adds, "When you create a beautiful piece of art, not only does it have the power to soothe or heal you, but you have the wonderful opportunity to be a part of someone else's healing as well."The California bay area native and self-taught artist always had a passion for art. This passion awarded him first place in a national art competition during his senior year in high school with an oil on canvas landscape. After high school, Rick enlisted in the military and was honorably discharged after serving for four years. Though his early passion and love for art remains, due to military service related stresses, art has also become a positive and therapeutic outlet.Having settled in Charleston, SC after his military service, Rick now enjoys the beauty and diversity of the low country. Though he mostly paints with the acrylic medium, he also creates with oil, and pastels from time to time. Initially a critic of the abstract and non-objective style of painting, he now embraces it with its freedom and complexity of color, texture, and shape. His paintings are largely done with palette knives, and often include cascading drips and pools of diluted hues and color.