Artist bio

Born in Brooklyn NY, Rickie DuBurke never having any formal training acquired his knowledge and skills through countless hours of self study. He has participated in 30 group exhibitions throughout the United States. In 2005 Rickie Du Burke was awarded signature membership to the International Society of Acrylic Painters. His art has graced the covers of greeting cards for the Heritage Collection, Artful Greetings and Carole Joy Creations; advertisements for Prato Men's Fine Wear outlet and illustrations for Cricket the magazine for Children. He has been commissioned to create postage stamps for the governments of Guyana and Nevis. His works can be found in the private collections of former Mexican ambassador Edouardo Noriega, Mexico City and American novelist, dramatist and poet Reynolds Price, North Carolina. At the Hamilton Landmark Gallery in NYC a private exhibit of his work was held exclusively for the ambassadors of Sweden Birijit and Kjell Anneling. Texas based architect R Michael Lee commissioned a painting for his home office. In 2013 his work was included in an exhibition in the Art Institute of Chicago honoring Nelson Mandela. From 2014-2018 Du Burke was commissioned by a former NYC hedge fund manager to create a cycle of paintings which were then exhibited in venues such as Harvard University in Cambridge Mass., HG Contemporary, The Hole Shop, and Studio Vendome in NYC. In 2020 his painting "Shadow of Venice" entered the permanent collection of the Copelouzos Family Art Museum in Athens, Greece.

Title

If the Lord Be For Me

Medium/Genre

Painting

Artist Statement

"The act of painting becomes the act of confession and each canvas my confessor" is my artist statement. This work is no different from anything else I have painted. By nature quiet and very much an introvert the paintings cannot bear false witness. Much of my works have an enigmatic quality lending themselves open to interpretation. Working exclusively with acrylic in a technique which borrows from the Old Masters the surface is first primed with two coats of acrylic medium.I prefer stretching and priming my own canvas. This coating helps preserve the surface and cuts down its absorbency. Next, five to six coats of gesso are applied. The final layer is a neutral gray tone onto which the drawing is then transferred. The form is next developed in shades of gray and white. This grisaille is known as an underpainting. After this step has been completed to satisfaction a series of glazes and scumbles of transparent and translucent color is applied to bring the figure to life. The process is slow and laborious but the delicacy and subtle transition of tones and color cannot be achieved by another method.

How it fits into contest

We all face moments of conflict and strife, battles with in and those with out. But deep down in our spirit we must be confident that we are not alone in these battles.

Symbolically representing the sacrifice of Christ, the figure dons the battle armor of a blood red robe. The helmet, face mask, is simultaneously an acknowledgement to our current moment in time and testimony to our belief. With the lenses intentionally opaque this serves as a reminder that we walk by faith and not by sight. "And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God " was the inspiration for the "sword" which is depicted with a scroll containing the word, the verse written in Hebrew "No weapon formed against thee shall prosper." Representative of the Holy Trinity the pillars indicate no matter what trials we face God is at work behind the scenes, essentially having our backs.

Credits

Rickie Du Burke.

How to Purchase this Artwork

This is an original work available for purchase.The asking price is $2,500.00 plus shipping. For those interested you may contact me at breukelenartist@gmail.com. The painting can be shipped as is stretched or removed from the stretcher bars and rolled in a sturdy tube (a cheaper s/h option).

Other Goods & Services Available from this Artist

I am available for commissions i.e. commercial illustration or fine art. I'd be open to working on a long term project with publishers of books, prints, and posters, corporations and private individual.

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