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9 x 7 Matted and Framed under Glass sketch of "Girl and Horse" 

from the original pencil work of  Rita Tate    All Limited Edition Prints Are Signed  and Numbered by the Artist.    Rita Tate's pencil drawings are so detailed that they appear to be photographs rather than drawings. However, she works entirely freehand with no projection or drawing aids.  

Biography

Rita Tate's impeccable style has made her one of South Dakota's most admired artists. An award winning professional artist since 1968, this native South Dakotan possesses a unique ability to capture the spirit of life in her pencil drawings and paintings whether through the graceful strides of an Arabian horse, the personality of a child captured in a portrait, or the quiet dignity and freedom of North American wildlife.

Rita began her career as a pencil artist and for eighteen years worked solely in that medium. She is a self taught, freehand artist who uses no projection or drawing aids. She completed her first drawing at the age of three. Since that time, she has continued to devote herself to producing artwork that is both true to life and intricately detailed.

Rita Tate's work is displayed in private collections across the United States and in Europe. An original painting was purchased by the University of South Dakota for the Governor's Mansion. In 1993, she was commissioned by the Convention of International Trade of Endangered Species to produce two illustrations for their book on endangered species. Her work has been featured on television, in newspapers, and magazines. She has thirty-four limited editions of prints, seven of which are sold out.

Awards

Rita Tate's work has appeared on the covers of Inside International and Arabian Visions magazines. Articles have also appeared in Arabian Horse World, Arabians, Dakota West, Arabian Visions.

In 1987, Augustana College commissioned her to produce a portrait of native American artist and teacher, Oscar Howe. She has received awards every year at the South Dakota State Fair in the 22 years she competed including Judge's Awards, People's Choice Awards, Governor's Awards, and Purchase Awards.

Three drawings were selected for exhibition at the Arabian Horse Trust in Denver, CO. She has won the Faber-Castell Purchase Award in Pencil, had her drawings accepted into the prestigious Academy of Equine Art Show held at the Kentucky Derby Museum, and placed in top five twice in the South Dakota Habitats Stamp Contest.  

Artist's Statement

Passion is powerful... Nothing was ever achieved without it, and nothing can take the place of it. No matter what you face in life, if your passion is great enough, you will find the strength to succeed. Without passion life has no meaning, so put your heart, mind and soul into even your smallest acts... this is the essence of passion, this is the secret to life.

I am inspired by the goodness, the innocence, the honest beauty and strength that is in the world around me and in the people, young and old.  I record in my paintings the joy and reverence that I feel, and I use a realistic style to celebrate "our Creator's" use of detail in His masterwork, our world.

It is my life's work to reach people's hearts through my art work: to remind them to seek, to recognize and to seize the strength of innocence. Compassion springs from this. And Love.