The Hillsdale Free Public Library is pleased to exhibit the original artwork of Rick Wieser (the “Wheez”) in the Meeting Room Gallery.
Works on view include colorful and whimsical woodwork and pen and ink drawings.
Rick describes his background, inspiration, and artistic process:
Hi, I’m Rick Wieser, a retired engineer with too much time on my hands. I have been working with wood for 50 years, making furniture and house additions. I make the little tchotchkes you see today because I can’t lift the beams to frame out a real house anymore.
I have no training and the bruises to prove it. In fact, many times, I have little idea where to start or what comes next, which makes it even more challenging. Although it might not look exactly as I pictured it, in the words of the Cable Guy, “I get her done.” I also find that not using a ruler much helps bring out the folk-art look to many of the pieces. I just freehand it and live with a crooked door or a leaning chimney.
About 10 years ago, I saw a carved whale in Bar Harbor. That woke something up in me and I started making my own whales, some of which may be on the wall today.
My process brings out the deep, rich grain of the wood, thus the name of my enterprise, “Driftwood Fish Co.” After selling about 40 whales, I started looking around for a new challenge and began making marine tropical fish. Then, as my good friend was Irish, I thought of making him a bird house that looked like an Irish bar. That started me in a whole new direction, and I morphed into making anything I dream up.
The wood for the fish is leftover beams from house construction; the others are made of wine crates, my old fence, or my neighbor’s yew tree.
While in college, I was forced to take an art class and was introduced to pen and ink. Recently, I got out my old quills and ink bottle and started where I left off 45 years ago. The pen-and-ink drawings in this show are all originals.
I have made more than 700 pieces to date and have sold them in LBI, Cape Cod, Mystic, New Hope, PA, Intercourse, PA, Lamington, NJ, Chester, NJ, Midland Park, NJ, and Eisele’s Nursery in Paramus, Galaxy Gardens in Woodcliff Lake, and Williams Nursery in Westfield.
Many people want to know how long it takes to make one. I don’t keep track of time as it passes quickly when you’re having fun, but I would guess a colorful fish is about 8-10 hours and 4-6 hours for a whale. The wall plaques can be from 15 to 50 hours, usually depending on how complicated I make the roof.
Learn about exhibiting at the Hillsdale Free Public Library. Artwork, photographs, and other collections are welcome.