 | | Rick tried to help me turn the Longmont, Colorado Carnegie Library building into a dinosaur museum at one point years ago. He drew floor plans and exhibit design illustrations. He even flew out to help me pitch the mayor and city councel. We were within the top three contenders, but lost in the end. This is a picture the night of the big pitch. |
 | | Here we are at DinoFest in Arizona. Rick had just illustrated a dinosaur game, so he was there to help promote it and I was there to hawk Dino-Trekking. |
| | | |
IN THE BEGINNING
I met Rick Spears almost 15 years ago -- on the phone -- when I was researching DINO TREKKING and needed a dinosaur expert for the state of Georgia. I contacted someone else, who didn't feel qualified to take the spot, but he knew this GUY who loved dinosaurs more than anyone else IN THE WORLD -- a guy who worked at a 4-H sponsored natural history museum. "Call Rick," he said. "When it comes to dinosaurs, Rick is the man."
I did, and MAN, did we hit it off -- right away -- even on the phone. And we've been working together, on and off, ever since. He's a gifted illustrator with a great sense of humor. Doesn't get any better than that.
HIS PROFESSIONAL PROWESS
Rick has illustrated DINO TREKKING, DINOSAUR MUMMIES, a chapter for Jon Scieszka's GUYS WRITE FOR GUYS READ, TALES OF THE CRYPTIDS, and for Dinosaurus Magazine, Dig Magazine, Child Life, Family Fun, AMNH Ology online and other publications.
He's built remarkable dinosaur models -- a mother Albertosaurus and her hatchlings, a nest of ceratopsian hatchlings, a stealth Coelophysis, a full-sized juvy T. rex, pterosaurs, dinosaurs inside eggs, a baby Triceratops, and his next big challenge may be a baby Gigonotosaurus. PLUS, he's made artificial rocks for a major motion picture.
PERSONAL
Rick was born in August 40-something years ago in California. But now he lives in Atlanta, Georgia. He won $250,000 on WHO WANTS TO BE A MILLIONAIRE, and promptly sent me more than 30 fossil replicas so I could do better school visits.
Anyone lucky enough to work with Rick Spears is lucky, indeed. |
