Originally born and raised in Cranston, RI, Rick has spent his adult life in Massachusetts. First in Medfield, where he raised his family, and now in Mashpee, where he is enjoying retirement.  The ocean and historic New England have always been a constant presence in his life.  Whether it be exploring the coastline from Narragansett to Portland, or the mountains of New Hampshire and Vermont, each makes him grateful to be a proud New Englander and he hopes his paintings reflect their spectacular beauty.

While he has been painting for over 25 years, after retiring in 2019 from WCVB-TV, he has become a dedicated, full-time artist.  As a painter, he is constantly searching for creative ways to take the scenes he observes in nature and transfer them to the canvas using oil and watercolor paints.  Whether it be through private lessons, group classes, viewing online videos by well known artists or through experimentation, his technique and style have been unfurling like the sails on many of the sailboats depicted in his work.  

One method that Rick truly enjoys is plein air painting with all its freedom.  The experience of leaving the studio and being in the open air observing nature, the changing light and transporting those moments to canvas have been a challenge and a joy for him.  And the most enjoyable aspect to him has been meeting the many people who stop by to take a peek at his work in progress and chat for a few moments.  It has been an unexpected pleasure for him to meet strangers who are strangers no more.   

Many artists have influenced Rick’s painting, especially some of his teachers who include Susan Parker, Bill Noble, Joe Galant, Linda Walker, and a special thanks to Peg Runcie.  His greatest influence has been his mother, Betsy Yetra.  Also a painter, she constantly exposed him to her work along with many other artists and encouraged him to study and appreciate the master painters.

Rick is a member of both the Falmouth and Cotuit Art Guilds along with the Sandwich Arts Alliance.  His work is being exhibited at Chapman Gallery-Cotuit,  Eastwind Gallery-Orleans and has been at the Creative Arts Center-Chatham, Gallery On Main-Falmouth, Main Street Gallery-Falmouth, Arts Alive Festival-Falmouth, Cotuit Craft Fest-Cotuit and the Sandwich Art Festival-Sandwich.  This June, he can be found in Bismore Park in one of the Art Shanties in Hyannis.