My initiation into the world of art began when I was in high school at W.F. Herman Secondary School, Windsor, where I opted to take Art as a subject. Mrs. Judy Bohonko introduced me to a new medium called watercolour painting.
My first experience was the study and painting of a birch tree. I was fascinated at how the paint and water flowed so easily. I began to explore different techniques using this medium.
I experimented with salt, used masking fluids, tried all kinds of different brushes, paints etc. but none of these really helped me feel satisfied with the paintings I finished.
Like many of us who love nature, I started painting flowers and birds outdoors and began to understand the character of my subjects as if the flowers could talk to me. The movements of the leaves made by the wind, pushing them back and forth left me mesmerized. It was as if the rhythm of the wind was like a song enabling the leaves to dance.
This set of observations of flowering plants outdoors inspired me immediately. This is what I was looking for.
In my paintings, I let the petals sing and the leaves dance. In my paintings of koi fish, they swim as if in an underwater ballet. Tiny twigs in my paintings guide the viewer to find the elusive saw-whet owl in among them.
The mighty queen of the pond, the beautiful lotus flower, stands above all in her water kingdom. As spring arrives, magnolias open and burst into the air inviting all the bees, birds and butterflies to join the celebration of a new beginning.
For each and every painting I paint, I give a little bit of a delicate oriental touch and tells a story behind the picture.
The pinks, the greens, and the deep purples of the iris and many of my paintings represent their own character. The red poppy is not just a pretty flower. As we know it, it represents more than its beauty alone; it represents the peace and freedom we enjoy thanks to the heroes who sacrificed their lives in wartime.
Frequently I find myself producing a series of paintings featuring hummingbirds, koi, irises, and saw-whet owls, only because I continue my attempts to capture the poetic mystery in their settings. I always seem to challenge my ability with watercolours to seek a feeling of satisfaction with the end result.
Too often I feel my paintings are less than perfect. Then I realize there will never be a perfect painting, no matter what.
The urge to paint or to ” correct” my last painting often turns into a sort of an obsession. I force myself to pause and not be drawn into an unending series of the same painting. Like many other artists, I keep on painting in an effort to improve.
I have never really been the kind of person who likes to show my work in public. If I felt I were really successful in capturing the beauty of nature as I sense it, I would feel different.
I see the work of other artists featured in magazines, books or the art section of local newspapers. I know their work is really good, very professional, very intimidating in a way, but also very inspiring.
At one time I felt I needed to compete with them. Over time, I realized that each and everyone of us is unique in his/her own style and form. Van Gogh didn’t have to compete with Monet. I began to study and copy their work. If I could only make my painting as realistic as they could, then I might get the recognition I craved.
It seems the more details I add to a painting, the more I lose the meaning of it … as if its soul went missing. I don’t want to paint a building and painstakingly paint every single brick of it. I want to paint a painting that looks like a painting and not a photograph.
Now I realize that with every brushstroke I make, that action is guiding me along.
As a young adult, I decided to try and showcase my work at Art in the Park in Windsor. It was a fun experience to present myself with my work in public. I met a lot of people who asked me many questions about how soft and gentle my style was.
From there, I participated in more art shows including Art by the River, Arts at the Marina, and one as far away as at Niagara-on-the-Lake.
Because I work full time as a general machinist at Proper Tooling, I was only doing a limited number of shows, mainly In the Windsor/Essex area. Over the years I did a lot of solo art exhibits at the Gibson Gallery, the Leamington Arts Centre and Mackenzie Hall.
During my shows, a lot of people admired my work and wanted to learn more about watercolour painting. I enjoyed giving some tips and sharing my knowledge whenever I could. I began to do watercolour workshops both for beginners and the intermediate level.
I started giving classes at Cooper’s Hawk Vineyards in Harrow. I provided the art materials (for convenience) with a complimentary glass of wine. The vineyards became my workshop home base.
The watercolour workshop is usually a three-hour class on a Sunday afternoon in non-pandemic times. Participants learn some watercolour basics and are able to complete a painting by the session’s end. I enjoyed well-attended classes.
From there I added a fun painting class with acrylics. I created a paint and wine class called the “Monet In Chardonnay” for those who never had any art lessons before but just wished to unwind experiencing the joy of painting. At the end of the night, I enjoyed seeing their paintings transform into their own masterpieces.
Other subject themes were: van Gogh’s Starry Night, Lavender Fields Forever, Fifty Shades of Red, and there were many more.
I joined the Arts Society of Kingsville about three years ago, after moving to Kingsville from Windsor. I was a member of the Arts and Cultural Alliance of Windsor Essex County, and the Association of Representational Artists. I enjoyed being part of these groups, exchanging ideas, supporting one another, and getting to know the members and the art community as a whole.
My passion for undertaking art projects keeps me going with paint, paper and brush. I see beautiful people, places and things to paint all around us. I hope you do too.
To contact Rico:
Email
rdancel1812@gmail.com
Facebook
The Art of Rico Dancel
Instagram
theartofricodancel
All photos provided by Rico Dancel
Rico wonderful variety paintings. My 3 paintings on my walls, so grateful to see every day.
Rico your art takes me to so many wonderful imagined places.
Thank you Cathy. Sometimes I let my paintings touch everyone’s soul.
I cannot wait to take another class and experience technique and exploration of expression from such a giving artist. To learn how to convey the spirit of an object as you do, as if through a veil, is something that I would never tire of staring at.
Thank you Danielle. It is always my pleasure to see you taking my class. I am looking forward to seeing you again.
Like many artists, musicians and writers seems to know how to capture their audience thru words and sounds. In my work I let my paintings to be the “bridge ” between you and me and to touch your spirit through my paintings.
Amazing work
Rico, I’d like to thank you for the calmness& serenity your paintings bring to me when I view them. It’s as though you’re revealing your soul to us on canvas. God has blessed you with a special gift. 💗🦋
Thank you Martha. I always thought that a stroke of a pen can change a way of life then it must be true that brushstrokes can infuse someone else’s thoughts, provoke and capture her inner souls. It took me weeks to prepare a painting and yet only half an hour or so to do the actual painting. In doing so it is my mission to let you see what I see and feel the true meaning of every warm colours that fades away into the open. Only then I can do a single brushstroke to let you see and feel the beauty of what I’m trying to achieve.
I’ve enjoyed your paint classes so much …i hope we will be able to do it again in the future. Your paintings are so magical and am proud to have a painting of yours. Great story too! You are such a gentle and talented sole …take care my friend hope to see you soon take care and stay safe 😊
I was gifted one of Rico’s paintings from my daughter when my father passed away. It hangs in a prominent place in my home where I will cherish it forever.
Amazing artist. Amazing person. Amazing friend. So talented and willing to share his talent with the world. I can’t wait to see your next series! Always a delight. – Shelly C.
Your paintings are indeed magical.