Jezebel Gallery » Hosted Artists » Paintings » Michael Rider

Around The Bend Sanctuary Tortilla Creek Workman Creek


 Michael Rider - Artist Statement


“I have no memory of when I first started drawing or painting. It was just something I always did. So although I graduated from Arizona State with a BFA degree, I feel my art is more influenced by instinct than education. Painting is a deeply personal journey into our selves.


When I was young I always hiked alongside streams or rivers. Besides being beautiful and full of life, it was the best way to find my way back at the end of the day. Even though I now have a GPS, I still hike next to streams. The scenery’s always better with water in it. Water is the source of our existence. It is no wonder that we are drawn to it.


The waves and ripples of flowing water create patterns and shapes that are unique. There’s a hypnotic tranquility that I experience when sitting streamside, mesmerized by flickering water reflections, solitude, and the sound of a flowing stream. My aim is to recreate the feeling I had when I was there.


I think a painting should take you somewhere. That you should be able to imagine yourself drawn into the painting, with new areas of discovery and mystery that occur with each subsequent viewing. This is the kind of art that I was in awe of as a youth and strive to create as a painter.”


 Michael Rider - Artist Biography


 Michael is originally from San Leandro, California. He currently resides in Scottsdale, Arizona. He graduated from Arizona State University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in drawing in 2003.


He worked for many years as a character cleanup animation artist at both Fox Animation Studios and Anvil Studios in Phoenix, Arizona on many animated films:


Anastasia, Bartok the Magnificent, Titan AE, Prince Of Egypt, Eight Crazy Nights, Spirit, and Harvey Birdman: Attorney At Law.


Previous to that he produced art as a designer, technical illustrator/writer and freelance illustrator.


In addition to being a painter, Michael Rider currently teaches drawing and animation at The Art Institute of Phoenix. Among his artistic influences are Thomas Cole, Frederick Church, and Thomas Doughty.