After receiving his Bachelor of Fine Arts from Layton School of Art in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Rick worked in the art departments of major printing companies. He developed an interest in painting, drawing, photography and the outdoors early on. With camera in hand, he captured many wilderness canoe camping adventures on trips to Canada, Alaska and The Virgin Islands. Rick also expresses his creativity through painting. He received a national Andy award for black and white photography.  His work has been showcased in the Wisconsin Photographers, and Watercolor Wisconsin shows.  His work has been published on the cover and inside pages of Canoe and Kayak magazine, and Boundary Waters Canoe Journal.  Many private and corporate collections house his work.