Immediately following graduation from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas in the mid-70s with a BFA, Rita began her own personal journey beginning with rubbings made with graphite and Conté à Paris Crayons sticks from local rock formations onto paper. As she worked through long spans of employment first as a photo tech, later as a graphic artist, she continued to create and show locally. In the 80s she discovered large and bold expressionistic abstract works held a huge appeal for her. These works incorporated pastels, inks and acrylics. Moving on into new ideas in the 90s, Rita began to combine unconventional construction or crafting materials with forms wrapped with watercolor or handmade Japanese papers, embellished with wire mesh and Fimo Clay forms while drawing/painting on the surfaces, producing a series of several geometric “constructions.” 

Always looking to test where she will find inspiration, Rita produced a variety of works ranging from abstractions exclusively in graphite, to pastels, including a short series of studies of the local mountain ranges. The pandemic of 2020 was an opportunity to totally involve herself in her work, moving away from the large works of an earlier time to smaller, personal-sized art. The drawings from this period used calm colors, intentionally limited to three colors at most in each piece, or black pastel and graphite only. As life gradually returned to normal, her work became brighter and more energetic, reminiscent of the earlier years but with a refreshed inner vision.

Rita works mainly from an expressionistic point of view, hoping to convey an impression based on her own feelings or an observation of the natural world. She strives to find a balance between the accidental and spontaneous, working towards a level of creative control.

Rita’s art is marked by a curious spirit, a willingness to take risks, and the recognition that sometimes there may not be a clear resolution. There is a lesson in each and every approach, always finding value in the adventure of the process over a predetermined conclusion. The creative process is about finding the right combination of line, color, movement of various themes, exploring them sufficiently to draw out fresh expressions.

Through her works, Rita hopes to convey a “sense” of what stirs her interest in each new piece, encouraging viewers to embark on their own unique adventures of interpretation.