The art of storytelling: Rick Romancito’s new canvas

The former Tempo editor, however, hasn’t simply traded his pen (or laptop) for a paintbrush. Despite stepping away from full-time journalism, his relentless work ethic and legacy of success have carried over into his art. As a journalist, he won numerous awards from the New Mexico Press Association and the National Press Association.

Most recently, his oil-on-canvas painting "Night, Long Ago" won Best of Show at the 2025 Millicent Rogers Museum Miniatures Exhibition.

Rick said his paintings are more than just visual representations; they are an emotional journey, steeped in the struggle of creation.

“I think people can see the struggle,” he says, reflecting on his process. “My work is an evocation of mood, not a hard-edged replica. It’s about suggesting something from long ago or capturing an emotional response that people might connect with today.”

His pieces are not designed to be perfect depictions but rather to resonate with the viewer on a deeper, more personal level. Each brushstroke tells a story of both challenge and discovery — echoing the internal conflicts and moments of clarity all artists experience. For Rick, the struggle is intrinsic to the creative process and is the esoteric component that gives his art its raw, evocative, and thought-provoking power — something he refers to as “a meditative mood.”

The similarities from his "then" to his "now" are obvious — if you take the time to peel away a layer or two. Reporting stories and finding the​ right words and images often mask the internal struggle that many writers and photographers know all too well.

Although he was ready to leave his full-time job and dive into a new reality, Rick's version of retirement is a busy one. He continues to write the monthly "La Historia" column for the Taos News as well as weekly movie reviews for the paper’s online version. But painting, he explained, was something he has always done.

“I’ve been painting all my life," he said.

After attending the University of New Mexico, Institute of American Indian Arts and Anthropology Film Center, Rick acted alongside some notable film stars. As he reflected, he shared some of those experiences. “I worked as an actor in ‘Rooster Cogburn and the Lady’ with John Wayne and Katharine Hepburn, ‘The Wise One' [unreleased] for Disney, ‘Mustang’ for Walt Disney Productions, ‘The Take’ with Billy Dee Williams, ‘Showdown’ with Dean Martin and Rock Hudson, and ‘Nightwing’ starring Nick Mancuso and David Warner.”

Later, while working for the Taos News, Rick met, photographed or interviewed the likes of Lynn Anderson, James Coburn, Willem Dafoe, Dennis Hopper, Cheech Marin, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, John Newland, Edward James Olmos, Robert Dean Stockwell, and Elizabeth Taylor, among others. He also participated in the beloved Taos Talking Picture Festival, which debuted in April 1995 and concluded in 2003, and the Taos Solar Music Festival, which ran from 1999 to 2014.

Rooted in the rich cultural heritage of Northern New Mexico, Rick's identity is deeply shaped by his Native American roots. His mother hailed from Taos Pueblo, while his father came from the Zuni Pueblo, blending two distinct but equally rich traditions. Family has always been at the heart of Romancito’s life, with all but one of his four siblings still living at Taos Pueblo, a place that holds both personal and cultural significance for him. He and his wife, Melody, who have been together for 32 years, are also proud parents to their daughter, Ella, and grandparents to four young children — each of them a reminder of the enduring legacy of family and tradition.

“I’ve been lucky enough to live in a place that encourages creativity and respect for my family and my family’s culture and tribal origins,” he commented. “Now things are changing rapidly and people are losing that sensitivity and are looking at things with different eyes. In a lot of the paintings I’m doing, there are implications of a sense of suggestion of other worldly importance. They don’t follow a particular artistic style — a little bit impressionistic, abstract, completely imaginary, but there’s a little hint of something that goes beyond the image.”

From time to time, as Rick comes face-to-face with the much-appreciated struggle, he asks his wife (whose paintings are exhibited at the Parsons Gallery of the West) for her thoughts on color and listens to her input. It was a pleasant surprise when after submitting, "Night, Long Ago" to the Millicent Rogers Miniatures Exhibition, he learned it had won Best of Show.

“It’s a night scene that looks like a Pueblo Indian ceremony at night. It stemmed from my interest in history and how the Southwest has evolved. I’ve always pictured scenes like this and when I look at this painting, I see a long line of relatives going back in time,” he explained.

Just five years into his version of retirement, Rick has already laid a foundation for continued success. When asked about his legacy, the humble artist hesitated before responding.

“It would be the lessons I’ve passed on to my daughter and her children, the insights reflected in the things I’ve written about, the everlasting love I have for my wife, and my gratitude to my family for their unwavering support. Through my work, I hope to communicate ideas of peace and respect for all.”