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The opportunity to express herself creatively came as soon as Rita could hold a pencil. The middle of seven children, Salazar Dickerson was born and raised in Grand Junction with her father, Joseph Salazar, as her first art teacher: a gifted artist himself, he encouraged and supported Rita’s strong desire to draw and paint. Rita's achievements as a young artist led to her first commissioned portrait while still in high school. Her professional career began as the in-house artist for a large savings and loan, creating pen and ink illustrations and writing text for their weekly newspaper ads — but her desire to create fine art never left her.

She began painting in earnest in 1997 and has been doing commissioned work ever since. Rita’s formal art training began at Colorado State University, and more recently she has studied in workshops with Susan Lyon and Scott Burdick, Jill Soukup, Louis Carr, Tina Garrett, David Leffel and Rose Frantzen. She has completed hundreds of commissions. Her work is in private and corporate collections throughout North America as well as internationally. Rita lives in Colorado Springs and works in her studio at home. Salazar Dickerson is an Associate Member of the Oil Painters of America, a Copyist at the National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C., a member of the Portrait Society of America, the National Oil & Acrylic Painters Society and is the in-house artist at Lost Valley Ranch, painting as well as teaching weekly classes during their summer and fall season.

Artist Statement
Classically trained, I am constantly inspired by the beauty that surrounds me. I employ different methods in oil painting depending on the subject and how it speaks to me. Painting in a realistic style, I have fun using thick paint — adding impressionistic touches of color and texture.