On Display: Multi-career artist Jerry Ricker shares his passion

Like many artists or anyone who likes to doodle or scribble on a piece of paper, art has been with multi-career artist Jerry Ricker since he was a young boy, scribbling on the bedroom walls at 3 years old.

"Where does that come from? Well, we have to go back to the caveman days where even then someone had to express their inner feelings or try to communicate with others through art," he said. "I have painted in many mediums, even melting crayons in the third grade of school on to a piece of paper to form a beautiful multi-colored fish I had found in National Geographic. I now stick with oil and love the magic of blend that they offer."

Some readers may now enjoy and identify with Ricker's challenge of bringing artists from Missouri, Kansas, Illinois, New Jersey or wherever the emails and phone calls come from using his professional acting name Rick Jey, to two TV programs taped at Lincoln University. JCTV's "Mid-Missouri Art News" and "Spotlight on the Arts" air on MediaCom and Centurylink. Viewers can also watch now more than 50 episodes of the programs at the "JCTVAccess" channel on YouTube, with those shows available since October 2016.

"Take a look at some of the most outstanding artists that have been interviewed and don't forget to subscribe and 'like' if that is your feeling once you have viewed," Ricker said. "This winter I finally took time away from TV and other duties to again pick up the brush and begin three paintings."

Ricker has shared one he just completed with readers called "Sunrise Moonset." In addition he shared two of his favorites of past Arizona scenes.

Runge Conservation Nature Center of Jefferson City has scheduled "Call for Nature's Art"' exhibit for May and June, 2020. Ricker has invited his guests from October 2016 through 2020 to show their artwork. There will be a meet and greet reception and there is no charge for admission. Due to the number of entries, artists will be limited to display one piece.

Mid-Missouri art happenings and exhibits

The annual Adult Fine Arts Exhibit sponsored by Jefferson City Art Club is now open at Capital Arts Gallery. The Arts Around Town Gallery Crawl reception will be 4:30-8 p.m. April 26 at the gallery, 1203 Missouri Blvd. For more information, call 573-635-8355 or visit capitalarts.org.

Jefferson City Art Club fosters art appreciation. They meet to share their art and watch presentations by professional artists at each meeting. There will be a presentation by Artist Hollis Taylor on painting "Pet Portraits" in oil and watercolor from 5:30-7:30 p.m. April 15 at Community Christian Church, 409 Ellis Blvd. The club meets on the third Monday each month between September and May. For more information, visit www.jeffersoncityartclub-missouri.com.

Art House is showing its third annual "Mimic the Masters" exhibit through May 18. They will also hold the Callaway Plein Air event and exhibit May 23-26, with a reception on May 26 at its gallery at 531 Court St. in Fulton. Art House showcases many area artists' work from Fulton and surrounding communities, as well as hosts a variety of classes and workshops open to the public. Stop by Art House from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday or 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday. For more information, call 573-592-7733 or visit arthousefultonmo.org.

The "Truth(?)" exhibit is open through April 19 at Columbia Art League, 207 S. Ninth St. in Columbia. The exhibit answers the question "what is the truth?" and reveals the many faces of truth, its disguises and its veils. The gallery is open from 11:30 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday. For more information, call 573-443-8838 or visit columbiaartleague.org.

Mid-Missouri Arts Alliance features artwork from local and area artists, with select works from photographer Carrie Yonely's first book "Elements of Life: Through the Lens of Carrie Yonley." A diverse collection of wild beauty of North American nature, Yonley's carer as an environmental engineer and passion for photography showcases a diverse collection. Stop by Mid-Missouri Arts Alliance's gallery, 115 E. Broadway in Ashland, from 6:30-9 p.m. Wednesday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Thursday and Friday and 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, or by appointment. For more information, call 573-657-0711 or visit www.midmissouriartsalliance.com.

The Sedalia Visual Arts Association maintains a rotating art exhibit at The Sedalia City Hall in Sedalia Municipal Building, 200 S. Osage in Sedalia. They feature two new artists every two months, with Maren Schenewark and Linda Schwermer's work currently on display. Hours of operation are 8:30-5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

The "abstract surrealism" artwork of Jimmy Mustion will be on the JCAC website, www.jeffersoncityartclub-missouri.com, through May 12, with Fred Schollmeyer as the next featured artist from May 13-June 26. Artwork of both Jimmy Mustion and Joshua Hartzler, also known as "The Duke Of Artz," are on display at Department of Motor Vehicles, 1617 Southridge Drive, which is open from 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m.-noon Saturday. Mustion and Hartzler will appear on upcoming video programs from Rick Jey on YouTube.

Larry Carver's Facebook videos walk viewers through his paintings one element at a time. By pausing on each element, viewers can paint their versions. Larry works in acrylic, which is a water soluble paint that dries quickly. Visit Cindy Powell Carver's Facebook page for more information.

The Village Art Studio is gearing up to offer its 2019 summer art camps, available for children ages 6 and older. Each camp is $125 per session, held 8:30-11:30 a.m. or 1-4 p.m. Additional classes available at The Village Art Studio are homeschool art on Tuesday and Thursday, clay handbuilding on Tuesday and Thursday, after school art on Tuesday, adult or group painting on Wednesday and Thursday, children's clay class Thursday, fused glass Friday and children's art workshop the first Saturday each month. The studio is also available for birthday parties for all ages. For more information, call 573-230-1414 or visit thevillageartstudio.com.

Jimmy Mustion is a professional artist who is involved in area arts organizations and galleries.