Luke mechanic shows artistic side

Luke Air Force Base, Ariz -- Jet engine mechanic by trade and artist by passion -- Tech. Sgt. Andrew Rickert, 756th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, possesses a nonchalant attitude about his artistic ability, yet his paintings are considered by many as gallery worthy. 

Sergeant Rickert has sold many of his masterpieces and what appears to be perfection to art enthusiasts does not to Sergeant Rickert. 

"After I finish a painting, I can see many flaws," said Sergeant Rickert. "But with every painting, I am evolving -- improving my ability so the next painting will be better." 

Sergeant Rickert's artistic ability can be traced to both parents' lineages. His father and brother are sketch artists and his grandfather on his mother's side, Merle Kilgore, was a gifted songwriter who co-wrote with June Carter Cash A Ring of Fire. 

Sergeant Rickert grew up in Nashville, Tenn., in a household where a pencil and piece of paper were affordable entertainment. 

"I liked knowing when you had nothing you could take a pencil and piece of paper and create something amazing," Sergeant Rickert said. 

Since age 7, he had been solely pencil drawing, however, four years ago he tried using color -- pastel chalk. Then he transitioned into oil painting, which he has been doing for two years. 

His first painting was a portrait of himself and his wife, Staff Sgt. Tracey Rickert, 56th Medical Support Squadron, walking on the beach. 

"Since it was my first painting, I was pleased that it turned out well," he said. "However, my second painting was an utter failure." 

In fact, it haunted him and he ceased to paint for more than three years. Then, while at a store looking at an oil painting, Sergeant Rickert was confronted by a man who asked him if he painted. He explained his first painting came out OK, but his second was horrible. The man asked Sergeant Rickert if he had analyzed what had gone wrong. 

"If it hadn't been for him, I don't know if I'd be painting now," he said. "I realized with my second painting I had no real foundation. I wanted to hurry through it and be an artist, but I failed to plan it and sketch it out. His words opened my eyes and hit me in the heart." 

In addition to creating more than 100 paintings and sketches, Sergeant Rickert has also painted the mural at the 309th Fighter Squadron, and his foreign object debris poster is displayed on FOD bulletin board throughout the base.