Ricky Trione is a blind artist who paints from his heart! He is a Fairhope native who enjoyed drawing very realistically for years. Many people have in their collections the drawings Ricky did in pen and ink of the Sand Island lighthouse has well as his boats, crabs and images along the bay.

Ricky had two freak accidents that took away his vision, one eye at a time. He lost vision in his left eye from an accident while serving as a Captain in the Army in 1993. A logging truck slung an object through the open window of his vehicle. The next accident happened when pulled over in Baldwin County to check under the hood of his car, and a passing truck slung a piece of tire tread that struck him in the other eye and caused permanent blindness. Ricky had to give up much of his independence. He no longer could drive or do pen and ink drawings, among many other things. He continued to work as a counselor for the blind and visually impaired until the fall of 2005.

In April of 2006, Ricky was asked to partner with his childhood friend, Vicky Nix Cook, on creating an art piece for VSA (Very Special Arts of Alabama). Ricky and Vicky painted a beautiful big red Cardinal Bird and that was the beginning of Ricky “coming out of his shell”, and back into his passionate love for art. Vicky introduced Ricky to Nancy Raia, coordinator of Art Bridging Creativity, at the Eastern Shore Art Center. Nancy taught Ricky about colors and about painting with joy from his heart. He has had the opportunity to work with many of the fine artists of the Eastern Shore, such as Nancy Raia, James Hood, Colette Waite, Bruce Larsen and Vicky Cook, who have mentored, taught and inspired him to continue his love or art. Ricky loves to work with school children of all ages. He offers the children hope and inspiration that, “you can be creative and work through limitations”. Ricky’s style is unique. He first draws an image, from his memory with raised paints. He then paints inside the outline with is fingers. The colors have been strategically placed on his pallet by the numbers on the clock. The end product is always tactile, 3-D and very colorful. Unlike other artists, Ricky always encourages people to feel his paintings.

Ricky’s hero and role model is his uncle Ronnie Trione, who was a local celebrated artist during the 1960’s until his death in 1970. Ronnie inspired everyone because he painted by holding a paint brush in his mouth, due to being paralyzed from his neck down to his toes. Ronnie always smiled and shared joy with others. Ricky strives to carry on the inspiration and joy of his uncle Ronnie.