Bio

Rita Alvarez

 “It is my goal to challenge myself as an artist. It is my belief that every painting should carry its own strength.”
Rita Alvarez was born and raised in Fresno, California. As a child Rita and her family spent many summer vacations in the Oakhurst area camping and swimming. At one point the family owned a piece of land in Awhwahnee an experience which left a lifelong love for the Sierra Mountains and the Fresno Foothills.  Rita’s thirst to draw and paint, all that was around her was supported by her parents with materials and the freedom to appreciate the environment.  
Now as the result of years of studying the arts in the US and abroad her specialty is figure and landscape painting. Rita enjoys working with oil on canvas while understanding the importance of drawing. Upon Rita’s return to the mountain area she joined the Yosemite Western Artist fulfilling her dream to be a painter of the Sierra’s. To satisfy Alvarez’ desire, to be in the outdoors, you may often see her painting plein-aire on a roadside or down a winding trail in the Sierra’s.
Alvarez has had many one-person shows in the United States and public collections in Mexico and Germany.  Ms. Alvarez' work has been featured in several group shows and museums including the Turtle Bay Museum, Redding, California; City Gallery Davis, California: Vallejo Mansion Art Gallery, Vallejo, California and Uptown Arts, Sacramento California; Arte America, Fresno, California; along with several others. While Rita was the artist in residence at the Cache Creek Conservatory 2002-2003, she organized and lead a group of plein aire artist in the Capay Valley, just northwest of Sacramento.
Rita's work is the recipient of numerous awards and honors. In 1997 she received Grants from the University of California at Davis for "Painting the Yucatan Expedition". In 1996 she received Best of Show in the Fresno County Fair which went on to win First Place in the Best of Show Competition, California State Fair in 1997.