39 of 181

|

This is an updated version of a painting done in college about 1983. I had found it in some old photos and updated the scene by incorporating a boy playing with the gutter boat and the addition of the storm drain.
I don't know about today with all the electronic gadgets, but when I was young this is how a city boy played with boats.If you were a good bug catcher you could give your boat a passenger. that or plastic army men. You've heard comedians talk about how they thought their names were 'damn it'. I thought my name was " have U Ben''. Seemed like when ever I walked in the house mom was saying ,"Have you Been playing in the water? Have you been playing in the mud?, Have you been playing in the dirt? She used to throw me off once in a while with" Where have you been?"

My name is Gene Ritchhart. I was born and raised in San Diego, Ca. My father was a career Navy man, thus my early years growing up were spent primarily in San Diego. After I graduated from El Cajon High School I joined the Army. While in the army I was the driver of an M113a1 Armored Personnel Carrier. While stationed in Mainz, Germany I found that I could make a little money selling my art work. After the army I used the GI Bill to go to college and attained an A.A.degree in Art. I currently live in the state of Washington where I am continuously inspired by this states beauty. Thanks for viewing my work.