Rick Reynolds has been in the financial services industry for more than 35 years. In 1993, he established R.E. Reynolds Investments and Insurance Services in Oak Bay, where he advises a select group of clients on financial matters. It’s a successful business and Reynolds is a solid, conservative businessman.
He is also an artist.
After purchasing a waterfront cabin overlooking Desolation Sound, he found himself so moved by the beauty of his surroundings that he began to paint. That was about seven years ago, and Reynolds is still painting.
Despite his business pedigree, Reynolds comes by his love of art honestly. He gained his appreciation of expressionist art from an early age as he lived next door to Herbert Siebner, a member of the Victoria Limners Society. He was also heavily influenced by Flemming Jorgensen, a sophisticated and well-known Victoria artist.
“I really started out as a collector of original art and own several Siebner paintings,” said Reynolds. “But I’ve always loved art and enjoy letting that part of myself out and putting it on canvas.”
Reynolds has exhibited his work on several occasions, the most recent of which took place at the Arts Centre at Cedar Hill between Aug. 29 and Sept. 11. It’s a remarkable departure from his regular career.
Jeani Reynolds, Reynolds’ sister, and the coordinator of the Community Arts Council of Greater Victoria, isn’t surprised that her brother enjoys the creative process. “It’s a place where he can really play,” she said. “He’s quite prolific, but that’s because he has a lot inside himself that he needs to express.”
Reynolds’ paintings are done primarily in acrylics, a medium that dries very quickly and requires an immediacy that doesn’t apply to most other mediums. “It actually suits my style,” said Reynolds. “Some of the work is representative of my surroundings at the cabin, but most of it is almost accidental. I’ll start out wanting to paint something I can see and then I find something on the canvas that stirs my imagination and sends me off in another direction.”
It seems his approach is working as his art is selling. During his Sept. 6 reception at the Arts Centre, Reynolds sold four of his paintings.
As to his critical acceptance within the arts community, Jeani says that he is increasingly well accepted. “Even though he is an emerging artist and hasn’t really been out there too much, when people see his work they are intrigued. They like it,” she said.