Artist Spotlight: Rocky Reed

Rocky Reed, always knew he wanted to be an artist — a dream that’s shaped his journey from early sketches to his mastery of oil and acrylic painting. In this artist spotlight, Rocky dives into his creative process, from using traditional tools like vine charcoal and toned paper to experimenting with 3D modeling software for perspective and composition. As he prepares for his upcoming show, Rocky reveals how he’s pushing his work in new directions. Don’t miss this exciting evolution in his art!

Rocky Reed (b. 1988, Fallbrook CA) is a self-taught artist living in Des Moines, Iowa. He currently paints contemporary realist pieces, featuring still life, plein air, portrait, and figurative subjects. Rocky makes an effort to impart a sense of poetry, technical bravura, and presence to his paintings. He selects subjects and compositions based on complexity, variety, and compelling visual relationships. He also adheres to a vegan approach when selecting painting materials; completing paintings using all vegan-friendly paints/pigments, glues, and supports. In addition to painting, Rocky enjoys athletics, culinary arts, computer programming, music, and literature.

When I was in first grade I got a personal questions sheet and was asked what I wanted to do when I grew up, and I wrote "An artist". My mom kept it in a box of things like that, it's still around somewhere.

One recent change is that I've started blending in more avant garde techniques with my realism/representationalism, some of which will be included in my upcoming show.

Lately I’ll put on an audiobook or music, set up my palette and easel, and then dive right in. I’ve gone through a LOT of audiobooks these last few years.

I primarily use oil and acrylic paint on canvas for most of my pieces. When I began taking my art more seriously, I transitioned to painting fairly quickly. Although it has a steeper initial learning curve than some other mediums, I find it incredibly versatile and, in many ways, forgiving. If I need a specific color, I can mix it; if I want to change an area of a piece, I can simply paint over it.
For preliminary drawings on canvas, I use vine charcoal because it's quick, easily erased/wiped away, and allows for both edge and point strokes while sketching.
When it comes to sketches, I’ve experimented with various mediums over the years, including graphite, chalk, pastels, colored pencils, and digital tools (with a tablet). Lately, I’ve been using graphite and vine charcoal alongside white chalk on toned gray paper.
In recent years, I’ve also incorporated 3D modeling software (Blender) into my process to create reference models and establish underlying perspective structures for my drawings and paintings.

See Rocky's poetic work in person at our upcoming show debuting March 21st. Join Rocky ’s Presale List for early previews and the latest updates!