RIVERSIDE, Calif. — A move into a new house in 2003 helped draw out the artist in Altura Credit Union Executive Vice President/Chief Information and Administrative Officer Ron Woodbury.
"We were faced with all these empty walls and I was watching Trading Spaces on TLC where they did their own paintings to decorate the home and my wife turned to me and said 'you could do that'," said Woodbury. "I dabbled in painting when I was younger but never had the training or opportunity to do more so I figured I'd give it shot, bought a giant canvas from Michael's, it turned out great and have been doing it ever since."
He's managed to not only fill every wall in their home with his abstract artwork, but one of his paintings was recently selected for an art show sponsored by the Riverside Arts Council, a nonprofit organization dedicated to enriching the economic and social environment of both the City and County of Riverside by strengthening the many groups and individuals that make up the region's arts and cultural core.
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State of the Earth: Green Matters was an environmental art exhibit. He is also one of five area artists selected to display their work at the local university.
"I'm having a blast and it is feeding on itself from just a hobby to maybe something more," said Woodbury.
Although he describes painting as relaxing, Woodbury says he can get a little obsessed about finishing a piece once he starts.
"What is interesting is that what I paint is never what I set out to, so now instead of just getting frustrated I just go with it," said Woodbury. "I think it is because I do lack that real formal training so I would like to take some painting classes and find the time to do that eventually."
He adds that time is a luxury these days with a three year old and seventh month old in the house so he squeezes in painting time by getting up at 5 a.m. and works primarily in acrylic for the fast drying time.
"It dries almost too fast but at least it's okay if my kids touch it within an hour," said Woodbury.
While he hasn't sold anything yet he's excited to be giving a few paintings as gifts to friends and family that are fans of his work.
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