Arts & Entertainment

Artist Spotlight: Ricia Graves Entrekin

Acworth's own shares insights on her upbringing and passion for painting.

When Ricia Graves Entrekin was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in the early '90s, some of her first thoughts were for her passion for art.

“It was a struggle for a while,” said the , “but I learned to live with it.” She would not allow disease to take away her paintbrushes and sketchpads, tools that have been her family's stock and trade for generations.

Entrekin was born in 1947 near Puget Sound, WA, the youngest of five children. Her father was an operatic baritone singer and her mother was a pianist who painted watercolors.

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“It was almost a demand to become proficient in music or art,” said Entrekin, and she became proficient in both; not only does she continue her work in the visual arts, she is also an operatic vocalist in the Soprano range.

When her family moved to Bainbridge Island, inside Puget Sound, Entrekin was immersed in the artistic culture there. Among her many teachers was her second cousin, expressionist painter Morris Graves. Graves is famous for being one of the founders of the Northwest School of art.

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“Although his discipline was different than mine (he referred to his art as “art of the inner eye”), I gained a lot of insight into creative art with him,” said Entrekin.

Entrekin moved to the Acworth area in 1966, “exchanging the gorgeous magnificence of Puget Sound for the graciousness of the South.” Once in the area, Entrekin began to paint children and animals. She is particularly fond of painting squirrels, horses and dogs.

In 1985, Entrekin moved to Acworth proper and developed a following of people who wanted her to paint their “kids and critters.” In 1987, she met William Entrekin, a charming fellow artist. The two learned from each other and toured the art circuit together. They married in 1991.

After developing MS, Entrekin continued to paint and was featured in shows for “abled” artists. Entrekin won the grand prize at the Mason Murer Gallery's competition held for “abled” artists.

The Entrekins, both avid followers of Acworth Patch, saw the announcement for the Facebook Art Contest and Mr. Entrekin suggested she submit a favorite painting of hers, “Tim and Buddy.” Entrekin has been “tickled pink” by the response she has received from the Patch community over her work, although she wasn't surprised by it.

“This city is full of gorgeous, wonderful folks,” she said. “The town itself is beautiful, they've renovated it into a real peak of interest for everybody. I tell people, 'go to downtown Acworth,' they do, and they love it.” Both the Entrekins have found plenty of beautiful inspiration for their art while living in the area.

For young artists, who may have been inspired by Entrekin's art on Facebook, she has very simple advice:

“Get a good pad of paper and pencil and draw. Look at something and draw. Study other artists. Keep looking.”

To see Entrekin's work locally, visit the Lake City Gallery (at the House of Frames on Main Street), where some of Entrekin's personal favorites are shown.


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