Born in Santa Monica, California, Ron Riddick became a painter of the southwest, doing a range of subjects including cowboys, Indians and still life.

His art was encouraged by his father who was an art director for a major corporation. As a kid, Ron growing up in southern California, was enamored of Roy Rogers and western movies. He studied extensively at the Art Center College of Design in Los Angeles and then worked as a commercial artist.

His life changed when he enrolled in a painting class by Sergei Bongart, who freed him to paint for himself instead of clients and to strive for art that is emotional and touches the soul.

In 1979, Ron moved to Arizona and in October, 1997, was elected to the Cowboy Artists of America. His studio is a 5000 square foot building ten miles east of Tucson. He has one studio for teaching, an important part of his life, and another for himself. His wife, Natalie, handles the business affairs of his career. With plein-air easel, he frequently attends roundups.

He tries very hard not to get stereotyped because he thinks art should reflect life, which is a rich composite. In 2000, Riddick won the Frederic Remington Award at the Prix de West, Cowboy Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City, for his painting of two Lakota Sioux sisters, "Lakota Water Maidens."
Riddick was awarded a gold medal for his gouache painting, Prairie Storm Coming" at the 37th Annual (2002) Cowboy Artists of America Sale and Exhibition at the Phoenix Art Museum.

Ron Riddick is a versatile artist whose portfolio is comprised of a variety of subjects, from cowboy and Indian scenes to European landscapes and still lifes. Looking at his work, it is evident that he is very careful about what he exhibits.

Unlike many artists who are in a hurry to move on to the next canvas, Ron takes the time to create highly finished works of great quality that capture and hold the viewers' attention. Ron is an intellectual artist, always asking what it is that makes a painting a masterpiece. He says, "I began to look at the history of art, to study why the masters succeeded, and to try to fathom their response to the world around them."

Anyone can study the great masters, but Riddick seems to have the ability to unlock the secrets of the luminous qualities of their works through his creativity. He dedicates himself to the visual disciplines of design, correct proportions, and at capturing sunlight. In addition, his loose brush strokes and use of color are as interesting as the subject matter itself.

Whether he paints a group of cowhands or a herd of horses, he differentiates each one and gives them distinct personalities. His paintings draw our attention and leave us feeling good, as Ron's positive outlook on life comes through in his painting. Riddick has been named one of America's top 100 most collectable living artists by the Encompass American Fine Art Newsbook.