BIOGRAPHY  
  From book covers to movie posters, from video packaging to billboards, comic strips and cartoons, entertainment illustrator Rick Law’s artwork has been seen by literally millions of people the world over.
With a client list that includes some of the most well-known and brightest luminaries from industry, film, music, and TV, Rick is modest about his success.

“I’m just trying to pay my bills,” he laughs.


Rick’s first memory of picking up a pencil is rather sketchy. “I’ve been drawing all my life,” he says.
“I have a vague memory of the first day of kindergarten, and trying to impress some girl by drawing stick figures of Superman.” “Although I’m not sure if this was just an early example of my clumsy attempts to be smooth with the ladies or some kind of a foreshadowing of my eventual career,” he smiles.

Rick’ childhood was a turbulent one and at the age of 11, his family moved to the small town climate of Salinas, CA. “For the most part I grew up there and still consider it my hometown.” In Salinas, Rick discovered his real interest was in drawing and soon forged a life long friendship with next door neighbor and best-friend, Gary Shipman. The friendship would help to further spur him down his life’s path. “When we moved to Salinas, my family was extremely poor”. “Since Gary lived next door, our families used to eat together to try and share expenses.” Soon, the two friends were staying up all night long copying the artwork from comic books, and getting pretty good at it.

Rick says it was really his interest in music though that launched his career as an illustrator. “Although I have been drawing for about as long as I can remember, my professional art career started when I was probably about 15 or 16 years of age.” “I had been a fan of the musician Steve Taylor and I was given a high school art assignment to paint a t-shirt,” he explains. “I chose to do mine featuring the covers of Steve’s albums.” “Soon thereafter, I attended a performance of his and wore the completed shirt. Well, someone brought it to his attention, we ended up exchanging shirts, and out of that encounter we became friends.”

“He encouraged me in my art and through his introductions; other opportunities eventually arose for me from that one project. That’s not to say it’s been easy road. It can be extremely difficult and challenging to try and make a living this way. I have been blessed to find and have as many opportunities as I have, and I really am thankful for them one and all.”

Rick attended Salinas High School and ended up leaving school early, after not feeling particularly challenged. “I obtained my diploma a year and half early (thus missing out on my prom and graduation functions), and started working soon thereafter.” While in high school, Rick found time to participate on Yearbook Staff as school artist, and in Leadership activities.

While Rick started freelancing professionally during high school, at the age of 17, he also had a number of steady ‘regular’ jobs that helped to broaden his knowledge and experience. That experience helped in paving out his career now. “I’ve worked as a production artist for my hometown newspaper, The Californian; as a sign painter, and in music retailing, all at one time or another.”

Feeling stifled in the rural atmosphere of Salinas, Rick soon left central California to enroll at California Institute of the Arts in Valencia, CA. “I went (to Cal Arts) for about ten minutes,” he says smiling and rolling his eyes. “Their philosophies and mine did not merge.” The student body’s pervasive attitudes about art clashed with Rick’s more commercial sensibilities. “I was interested in actually working – not starving for my art”. Rick decided his interests were best suited elsewhere and chose to leave the school.

He started showing his portfolio around nearby Hollywood, hoping to find work. It wasn’t long before he did. His bold, innovative, and energetic designs quickly drew attention. “I was real naïve about the way things worked (in Hollywood and such), but I was persistent above all else. In many cases, my ignorance actually worked in my favor.”

Soon, his talents were in constant demand and he was working alongside some of the most recognizable names in the entertainment industry. “It is definitely a strange experience, to come from my background and then to suddenly be meeting people you’ve only heard about, or seen your entire life through the media.” “You soon learn however, that just because a person is recognizable doesn’t mean much. They are still just people.”

Rick has long helped some of the biggest names in show business realize their projects and visions. Sometimes these opportunities have also allowed him to develop and produce some of his own projects, as well as produce some collaborative ones. These have included, the CD-ROM video game Rage of Angels, the gothic fairy tale series BURN, the supernatural comic strip Beyond the Veil, the animated series The Epic Adventures Of MuleDucks, and a feature film project based on the legend of St. George and the Dragon.

In recent years, Rick has worked consistently for the Walt Disney Company providing illustrations for the covers of their animated videos, DVDs, and associated advertising. “One of my proudest achievements has been my association with the Walt Disney Company.”

So how does Rick continue to make his work relevant in the ever changing world of entertainment?

“We tend to draw lines around the things we do, how we see things, the way we think, and even how we live our lives.”
“Draw outside the lines,” he says with a hint of mischief.

In 2003 Rick launches an online gallery at www.RickLaw.net. “I’m hopeful the web-site will be a place where people can not only view my work, but find out a bit more about it, and maybe myself too.”

Whether as an illustrator, writer, or producer, it is certain that for as long as he continues to create, Rick’s work will continue to be seen and enjoyed by millions the world over.
Surely, the best is only yet to come.

   
The official website of Rick Law, acclaimed entertainment illustrator & producer; featuring an online gallery of his art and projects, including: Rage of Angels, BURN, Beyond the Veil, The Epic Adventures Of MuleDucks, and St. George and the Dragon. RickLaw.net, RickLaw Cartoons Comic Style Beyond The Veil It's A Wonderful Life Pat Boone Tour Rage of Angels Conceptual Bertone X 1/9 Nanaco Sato Pat Boone Tour Mickey's Once Upon A Christmas 101 Dalmatians Tarzan & Jane Rescuers Down Under Ichabod & Toad Madeline Film & TV Country Music Awards Leap Of Faith Melrose Place Logos Logos HYPER IMAGE Entertainment Music & Band Logos Music & Band Logos Music & Band Logos Pure Publicity Round Hill Farms Spirit West Coast The Light House Transit MISCELLANEOUS FINAL FINAL: EVAN-MOOR EDUCATIONAL BOOKS FINAL: Monterey Jazz Festival Portraits Amy Grant Mariah Carey Natasha Gregson Wagner Pat Boone Religious T-Shirts Lighthouse Shirts Michael W. Smith Youth Series 9-11 Memorial Beyond the veil BURN HISTORY CHARACTERS SYNOPSIS THE EPIC ADVENTURE OF MULEDUCKS Rage of Angels Rage Of Angels Rage Of Angels HEART OF VIRTUE, BREATH OF FIRE:THE LEGEND OF ST. GEORGE AND THE DRAGON Yello Gallery Bio Faith Timeline Quotes Clients FAQ Info News Journal