Rick grew up in the turbulent 60's, with the foreign car boom still in its infancy, surrounded by an ever changing family collection of Foreign cars. These included a Renault Dauphine, Triumph TR3 and TR4 (picture here is me in a restored TR4), a Volvo 544, as well as one of the original Mini Coopers.
Additionally, a family member worked for a still young, yet fast growing Volkswagen of America (VWoA), with many years of seeing new models like the Type 1 (Beetle), type 2 (Bus) and Type 3 (Squareback). Rick would pick out the most minor difference on each year's VW's as they were brought home (keep in mind VW made few minor, if any, changes year to year).
Rick began drawing cars a age 5 during this time, As Rick's love of car grew as he did, he became the consummate 'car enthusiast', even to racing in SCCA and becoming an 'expert' on the car industry products and plans.
As Rick grew he kept improving his drawings and eventually hoped to make car styling (as it was called then) a career. For reasons too long to detail here, that career was sidetracked, and so now Rick continues this endeavor in his free time. I began drawing cars again regularly in early 2007, after a decade long hiatus! Special mention must go to my Wife Lisa for having jump started me, having bought me the acclaimed book, "How to Draw Cars Like a Pro" (Thom Taylor/ Motorbooks 2006). It not only improved my techniques, but was an inspiration to 'get serious' again. A one time possible career as an automotive designer is now a re-found hobby!
Of late (2011-12) Rick's interests shifted significantly from Design of future cars, to Classic cars, esp. the 1950's-1960's. So Too has his focus on going 'Back to the Future' sort-of-speak, to create and remake designs of the past. The 'BackToTheFuture/OuttaHere" design sub-studio is an outgrowth of this, so much so that even as of 2015, most all designs are based in the far past. Increased design liberty (less regulatory restrictions for example) is one benefit, as he always stresses to take into account as if he was actually designing IN THAT PERIOD.
Rick lives with his lovely wife Lisa, as well as happily spoiled pets, near Las Vegas Nevada. Rick spent 23 years near Chicago as a draftsman, hardware and software engineer with AT&T Bell Laboratories/Lucent Technologies, and since 2003 has been a Software Test Engineer and Manager in various sectors in Las Vegas.
