Ralph Parker received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Houston in 1972 while working as a draftsman in the oil industry, He spent several years as a freelance architectural illustrator for architects, developers and graphics firms, and produced marketing materials in the automotive armor industry. He and his wife Nell also operated an art gallery for a short time in Ruidoso, New Mexico.

For most of his adult life, his art consisted of detailed, highly rendered drawings in pen and ink, graphite pencil and colored pencil.

In 2007, Parker shifted his focus from drawing and turned to brushes,  teaching himself to paint and choosing gouache as his medium. In early 2015, he  began drawing and sketching again, producing whimsical storybook art with pen & ink and watercolor.  His first illustrated children’s book, Sherwin, A Snail’s Tale was published in 2018. In 2017 at age 73, he began exploring acrylics as a secondary painting medium.  He and his wife, Nell, have participated in art markets and festivals from Texas to Ohio.  His landscape paintings are represented by The Mason Gallery in Mason, Texas.

——————-RECOGNITION—————-

FIRST PLACE, Paintings – 125 Show 2010, Plano Art Association, Plano, TX  (“Reflections”, 9×12 Gouache)

FAV 15 – September 2010 Canvoo Bold Brush Painting competition (jury’s favorite 15%) (“Secret Bridge”, 16×20 Gouache)

FAV 15 – October 2010 Canvoo Bold Brush Painting Competition (“Into the Woods”, 8×10 Gouache)

FAV 15 – July 2011 Canvoo Bold Brush Painting Competition (“Little Blue Cottage”, 9×12, Gouache)