West Alabama Christian Living Article

As a five-year-old boy, Rick Rush would sit on the porch of his Chickasaw, Alabama, home and draw pictures of what he saw pass by. He did the same thing in front of the television, “rendering,” as he calls it now, likenesses of how he saw the world.

As a young man Rush also got involved in athletics. Sports and art became his passions, and from an early age he knew that his life’s work would be comprised in large part of these two elements. As he grew older, Rush continued to capture and suspend the world around him in his art, but never engaged in any formal art training until he enrolled at The University of Alabama. Upon graduation, he moved away from Tuscaloosa for a brief career in publishing, but a young lady named Susie provided the necessary encouragement to return to the Capstone. As a young and eager entrepreneurial artist, who could think of a better place to practice the craft of sports art than Tuscaloosa, home of Coach Paul W. Bryant and the Crimson Tide? Bryant was gracious and influential to Rush, providing him with letters of introduction, along with serving as one tremendous subject for an early painting.

“I always aspired to paint sports art,” says Rush. “When God led me into the art business, the sports art business particularly, Coach Bryant was still here and my wife Susie was still in school,” says Rush. “Coming back to Tuscaloosa, particularly with Coach Bryant here, it was natural for me to gravitate back. I would do a picture, and my brother Don, who is my agent, would go out and try to sell it. Coach Bryant was also helpful to us. It was a great time and great spot to launch a career in sports art.”

A fan of many artists, classical and contemporary, Rush places Claude Monet and the French Impressionists at the top of the list of those who greatly influenced his style. “I aspire to accomplish what the French Impressionists did in the 1800s in France,” says Rush. “They captured so well the essence of life during their time.” For Rush, he considers one of the biggest components of today’s American life is that of sport. “The sporting life is such a big part of American culture, so one of the things that I do is capture and suspend moments in space and time of that lifestyle in my art,” he says.

Rush has captured those moments in a variety of forms. Visit his studio or his Web site and you see pieces ranging from football and baseball to rodeo and the Olympics. He recently finished a piece on the St. Louis Cardinals and their 2006 championship season, and recalls how much he enjoyed the time he spent following the team throughout the season.

Another of his favorite pieces is one for the Kentucky Derby. “One vivid image that stands out among all of the things that we have done was being there in the stable on the morning of the derby,” Rush continues. “They give those horses an early morning workout before the race, right about sunrise. This particular race was Willie Shoemaker’s last, which he won on Ferdinand. Those horses are such finely tuned athletes, and they bring those big animals out there and take them on an easy run around the track. When they brought them back, you could see the steam rising off of those big, muscular bodies. That was really something.”

Rush also lists The Masters and the Olympics as special memories, along with a piece on Muhammad Ali. That work was of particular meaning for Rush, because it was used to commemorate and benefit Ali’s foundation in Phoenix. “In going back and watching the tapes of Ali in his prime, I don’t know who could beat him today,” Rush conjectures. “He was such a phenomenal athlete. When you are involved in those types of events, you are helping real people. You discover that there is a person behind all of the statistics, and so it is a joy to be a part of something like that.”

As an artisan, Rush considers himself a “research guy,” and says he gets caught up in whatever subject that he is working on at the time. Instead of taking photographs, Rush does on-site sketches to help him conceptualize his work. He then returns to his studio to refine the sketches, firm up the total concept of the piece, add color to sketches if necessary, and begin the painting process. “I like to epitomize what happened in that event, capture those special moments, because there is so much going on in sports that I might not get back to that particular subject for years.”

As you can imagine, creating pieces that earn you the moniker of “America’s Sports Artist” doesn’t just happen overnight. Each work takes nearly two months for the actual painting. Another six weeks to two months are required to produce the hand-painted serigraphs, plus research time during and before the painting. “I tend to work on just one thing at a time because there is so much involved, so many details,” says Rush. “One reason for that is the fact that people who follow sports notice the minor details. For instance, Cardinals fans know that Chris Carpenter and Curt Schillling wear Reebok shoes, so if I put another brand of shoe on them, they are going to notice that right away.”

CLOSE TO THE HEART

As an artist, Rush himself is a student and fan of many varying styles and artists. However, throughout his lifetime Rush has come to understand that those who operate in the creative realm do have things in common, and one in particular.

“I have found that artists tend to do things that are close to them,” says Rush. “Hemingway wrote about war, fishing and bullfights. Faulkner wrote about the South. Becoming a sports artist was a culmination of two things I have done all of my life.”

For Rush, there is one other aspect of his life that is closest of all to him, a component of his life that he has incorporated into his work for the last 13 years – his faith in Jesus Christ.

Author and artist Francis Shaeffer had a huge impact on Rush in his faith playing a part in his art, in living for Christ and impacting our culture. Rush points to Shaeffer’s book, “Art and the Bible,” as a major source of inspiration. “In his book, he brings out the idea of how we are all called to use the gift s, abilities and talents that we have to honor God, and that He did not give those to people illicitly or on accident,” Rush says.

In the book, Shaeffer points to one of the earliest characteristics of God that shows up in Scripture – His creativity: “In the beginning, God created....” And because we are created in His image, for us the expression of that creativity, in whatever form it manifests, is what provides us satisfaction. Shaeffer’s point is that we need to live and impact for Christ, right where we are, and to honor Him.

In painting “Season After Season,” the piece on former Auburn, Kansas City Royals and Oakland Raider standout Bo Jackson, Rush felt led to begin inserting a visual of John 3:16 in each of his paintings.

“One night as I was spending some time meditating and working, the Lord just led me to put John 3:16 in the painting. Seeing that is a common thing, you see it in crowds all of the time,” he says. There was a huge deadline on the piece, one that called for it to be finished and photographed for use in a publication. “I finished it about two in the morning, and I called the photographer and we shot it shortly thereafter,” Rush recalls. “In order to get it done, I left out a couple of little signs in the background that I knew I could add later, and one of them was the ‘John 3:16.’ From my standpoint I thought the painting was excellent, finished, except for those little things.”

The work was sent off , but Rush was still asking the Lord if putting that message in the art was really something He wanted him to do. If so, asked Rush, then he needed a clear sign. The painting went to the color house, but a call soon came from there indicating that something strange was happening with the painting. “They couldn’t get the lower right hand corner to focus,” remembers Rush. “In the 18 years that they had been handling my paintings, this had never happened. It so happened that it was the area of the work that I had left out the ‘John 3:16’ sign. Between the first and second shooting, I had a chance to insert the reference and it ended up in the final work. So I said, Lord, that’s clear enough, thanks!”

Since that time, Rush has not completed a painting without the reference somewhere in the background. It has even become a little more bold in recent works. “It’s amazing how many folks ask about that now,” says Rush. One particular instance involved an art collector, who had no idea about the reference, asking Rush to explain its inclusion. “Through that the Lord reminded me of the principle that His Word is more important than what I say. I answered him that it was a Bible reference, and the verse it references says this: ‘For God so loved the world that he gave his only son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.’

“I have wondered since then how God used that instance,” he admits. “I have heard Henry Blackaby speak about that when people ask those “God” type questions, they don’t do that on their own. It has become a confirmation to me because I believe that’s what we’re supposed to be about – impacting our culture for good, for Christ, to the best of our ability wherever we are, and leaving the result to God.

“That’s one little way in the sporting realm that I can do that in an active way. I put that testimony out there because it keeps the Word in front of folks. Through that it can show them that God does love them, because that is the bottom line – how much He loves us.”

CREATIVELY SIMPLE

In an interview with Rush not long into his painting career, an interviewer once asked him for what did he want to be remembered. At risk of oversimplifying his life’s purpose, Rush stated simply, “I want to be remembered as a man who loved God, loved his wife and children, and that captured America through sports.

“The big story in my life is the same as it has been since we started all of those years ago. I was asked that more than 30 years ago, and my answer is still the same. I believe that what is written in Ephesians 5 and 6 are not chronological by accident. Those are the real keys for life. I try to live by those priorities – time with Him, my wife, kids, work, ministry, etc.

In support of that, Rush recounts a lesson that he gleaned from a television interview of George and Barbara Bush years ago. Having been the most powerful man in the world, and been in the most secret of meetings and traveled all over the world, Rush remembers the question asked of the former president and his wife: ‘What they had taken from those experiences?’ Mrs. Bush began by explaining how they had returned to how they used to be at their home in Texas. George got up and made coffee in the morning, she cooked breakfast, then they spent the day doing things together. They had dinner together in the evening, had coffee, etc. But it was Mr. Bush’s comment that Rush remembers as significant: ‘You know, after having done all that we have, I have found out that the absolute most important things in all of life are your faith, your family and your friends.’

“That’s it, it is real simple. We complicate life so much, but that is the bottom line to all of life,” says Rush. “I think the faster and earlier someone learns that, the better off long-term they will be. I try, to the best of my ability, to focus on those things now.”

To that end, Rush says what he enjoys most outside of painting is spending time with his family. “I would rather hang with them than with anybody.” And oddly enough, even with the variance in their ages, they like hanging out with us!

Rick and his wife Susie have six children, each with their own innate creative ability. Rachael, 27, is married to former Tide baseball player Erik Smallwood and lives in Tuscaloosa. Sarah, 26, is an assistant praise and worship leader in Nashville. Richard, 24, is attending graduate school at U of A. Stephen, 21, and Rebekah, 19, are also students at Alabama. Seth, 12, is the last sibling at home.

Of course, according to Rush, they all are artistically inclined in a variety of ways. “All were involved in music early on, and Sarah stayed with it. Now that is her vocation and avocation. Stephen and Rebekah are involved in music as counselors at Pine Cove Camp this summer. Seth likes music and is beginning to learn the drums. And several can draw well, especially Stephen and Seth,” says Rick.

Rush points to his helpmate of 30 years, Susie, as the rock in their home. “She is absolutely marvelous,” he says. “She has home schooled all of our kids on average up until the sixth grade, and she is one of the best teachers and the best mother I know. She is just a phenomenal girl.” When it comes to his family, Rush sticks to his story that the simple things, and oft en time one-on-one with the members of his family, are the most satisfying to him. “I look forward to coffee at night with Susie, when we can just sit and talk and enjoy each other’s company,” Rush says.”

When working on a project, Rush often tried to take a member of his family with him when he attended an event. But, as they have gotten older, time is spent more with each individually. For instance, he has enjoyed rock climbing, outdoor activities, and time at the Grand Canyon with Richard and Stephen. Oft en with the girls, Rick attended concerts, recitals and athletic events will them all. So has parenting six children provided he and Susie insight into success? “You know, communication with your kids is so important. You have to do whatever it takes to constantly remind your kids that you’re on their team,” he says. “They can’t always see your heart to know how much you love them, but they can see it by you getting involved in what they enjoy. With my daughter Rachel, she has an eye for interior design and she changes room quite oft en. One thing I have done with her it to spend time helping her paint a room. Now that they are older and in different times and places in their lives, it becomes more specialized.”

Rush also adds that one of the biggest tips he can give parents is to let children know that they are loved. “If you let them know they are loved, they will let you make a lot of mistakes,” says Rush. “That does not mean necessarily being easy on them. In fact, that means giving them as clear and Godly and wise direction as you can provide, including discipline. The Bible says ‘Whom the Lord loves, he disciplines.’ If you extend love and, secondly, grace to them, those are two most important things a parent can do. Thankfully I serve a gracious God, because otherwise I would be in big trouble!

“Parenting is something that is done much by faith, because you are looking at an eventual result. You are trusting God that down the road what you are doing now is going to work. The best way to do that is according to His Word.”

MASTER STROKES

Why has God blessed Rush’s career? “Because He is gracious!” he quips. “I am not the best artist, and Don is not the best agent. We have been given opportunities that other guys work all of their lives to achieve and never receive. It’s all through the goodness of God and his grace to us. I know that, at least in our culture, that sounds like such “God talk,” but it is not. It is just His favor. In Psalms, Scripture says “He surrounds his righteous ones with favor like a shield.’

“It is amazing how most people think that when you interject God into anything, your IQ automatically drops 20 points! The thinking is that you cannot be a committed Christian and be as good or as bright as someone else,” says Rush. “How ridiculous is that? The Christian actually interjects new facts, and uses what Martin Luther called the “sixth sense” of faith, where we are able to look over the wall of the spiritual realm and trust God for something that we can’t always see. In fact, in Hebrews the Bible says if you can see it, then it really isn’t faith. As an artist, I serve a God who speaks and things that were not before, now are. He speaks and things that never existed before now do. One of the things that I have found is that even in a field that is so personal, it is not all about me. “

When difficulties come, no matter the form, Rush remembers that his creativity comes from the Lord. And that simply – it is not all about him. “There is an old saying that God guides men, but Satan pushes them. Whenever I feel that push, I know it is not from the Lord. There have been times when I had to step away from the canvas and take a deep breath and say, ‘Lord, if I am going to make this deadline, I know it is not going to be because of me.’ In those situations I have to calm down, sit back, crack open the Word and spend a little time with the Lord. In those times the Lord has refreshed me and reminded me of how great He is.” It is those times that Rush remembers where creativity flows from, and constantly recommits himself and his work to God, embracing the One who is the Creator. “If you have to do it a dozen times, keep giving it back to Him. I try to remember to commit every work that I do to the Lord before I even start it, and its outcome,” Rush says. “To me that’s just smart. Why try to work that deal out yourself when you have the creative God of Heaven and Earth on your side? Tap into that and understand that there is nothing that He cannot do – no thought He can’t bring into your mind, no ability He can’t provide, etc.

Rush points to many verses in Scripture that have helped him as he tapped into the creative power of Jesus Christ. “Psalm 32:8 is a neat verse that says, ‘He will teach you and instruct you in the way you should go, He will counsel you with His eye upon you.’ I did a study on this one time and this is such a great verse to understand. The word teach actually means that He will teach you the stuff you need to know, in order for you to do whatever He has for you to do. The other one has to do with the idea that He will give you the technical ability to do whatever it is He has for you to do. Then He will watch you along that path and counsel you as you go through it,” Rush continues.

Whether in his painting or in his life, to Rick Rush the message has been simple. By tapping into the Creator, Rush has found satisfaction in being faithful to his God, his family and his friends. “I really like a verse I sort-of bumped into in a new way recently – Ecclesiastes 1:3, which says, ‘What advantage does man have in all of the work which he does under the sun?’ The advantage is Jesus. It is real simple.