Rick Mangun
Teacher, Artist, Musician

I consider myself a realistic artist. I love to draw, paint, sculpt, and also enjoy the possibilities with digital tools. I began my career(s) working with my hands in the early 60's as a house painter in my grandfather's business (Mangun and Sons)...I learned how to use a 4" brush before I ever even touched an artist's brush. My studies of the fine arts in college lead to an application of that craftsmanship to artistry. I have a passion for making things... finding a new way of doing something and finding a way to connect to my imagination...that is what I love about my work

—Rick Mangun

Rick Mangun was born in Joliet. He took his B.A. in Music Education from Illinois State University in 1974, an M.A. in Humanities and Aesthetics from Truman University in Kirksville Missouri in 1980, and an MA in Educational Administration from Governors State University in 1998. He taught in the public schools since 1974 in Sidell, New Lenox, Oak Lawn, and Riverside (all in Illinois). Mangun works in music, animation, illustration, photography, watercolors, wood and clay. He has taught various Art, Music, Humanities, Digital Pre-Press, CAD, and Digital Multimedia courses extensively at all levels in the public schools (kindergarten through undergraduate) for 34 years.

In the summertime when there was no school, Rick worked a variety of general residential construction jobs, and eventually started his own construction business. Today that skill is applied when he constructs the frames for the finished pictures featured on this sight.

His present work in graphic image subjects range from everyday life and architecture to landscapes. Most subjects are derived from the areas of the country that he has spent summers and vacations.

He retired from teaching in 2007, and has concentrated on creating large format digital art prints.