Paul Rickards @ The Grand Opera House
Wilmington, Delaware
May 2026 Gallery Sales

“Programmable Ink” is a collection of colorful abstract artworks by Paul Rickards that explore geometric art that captures the imagination with bold use of color, pattern, and texture. Paul uses custom Python programs with vintage pen plotters, a long forgotten computer printer made to draw architectural plans or diagrams. Paul reuses these obsolete drawing machines to create one-of-a-kind artworks that are then drawn with just four pens of cyan, yellow, magenta, and black (CMYK). Each plot carries the trace of mechanical variation like minute pen skips, shifts in line, subtle changes in ink flow that give the drawings a kind of quiet irregularity. His work bridges the digital and analog as pen plotters take pen to paper, creating artwork without the use of “AI” tools. Each piece is unique, hand-selected by the artist from hundreds of algorithmic variations and plotted with archival pigmented acrylic inks on heavy 140 lb. cold press watercolor paper.

About the artist

Paul Rickards is a Delaware artist and engineer who creates algorithmic drawings using vintage pen plotters and modern tools. Inspired by the early computer graphics pioneers of the 1970s, he writes custom Python code to operate vintage pen plotters, machines from the 1980s that he repurposes to create physical works of art. Paul owns more than twenty plotters, selecting each one based on the outcome he wishes to achieve for the medium. His approach is grounded in an intimate knowledge of the machines he uses, many of which he has repaired or restored, and in a fascination with the slow, deliberate movement of the pen as it draws. Some works are drawn directly onto salvaged media, including 5.25-inch floppies, reflecting his interest in the afterlife of obsolete technology. Paul holds a BA in CS and minor in Art from U. Delaware. His work has been exhibited at the Vintage Computing Festival and in group and solo shows at The Mill Space in Wilmington and Bantam Tools in Peekskill, NY. His works are enjoyed by an international audience of collectors. Browse Paul’s works shop.paulrickards.com

Purchase Terms:

• Purchased works must remain on view at The Grand Opera House during the month of May 2026. Works purchased must be picked up or will be shipped beginning June 1, 2026.

• If you choose to pick up your print in Delaware: the frame shown is included.

• If you choose to have your print shipped: the print will be removed from the frame, rolled, bagged and shipped in a tube. No frame is included. Shipping to the USA is included in the price. No international shipping.

Pen Plotter Works On View

Plot 20260401144625 CMYK Circle Galaxies

24″ x 36″ watercolor, $500

Purchase Terms:

• Purchased works must remain on view at The Grand Opera House during the month of May 2026. Works purchased must be picked up or will be shipped beginning June 1, 2026.

• If you choose to pick up your print in Delaware: the frame shown is included.

Plot 20260329193824 CMYK Rainbow Fringe Rug

24″ x 36″ watercolor, $500

Purchase Terms:

• Purchased works must remain on view at The Grand Opera House during the month of May 2026. Works purchased must be picked up or will be shipped beginning June 1, 2026.

• If you choose to pick up your print in Delaware: the frame shown is included.

Plot 20221209031748 CMYK Hatched Delaunay Triangles on Waves

24″ x 36″ watercolor, $500

Purchase Terms:

• Purchased works must remain on view at The Grand Opera House during the month of May 2026. Works purchased must be picked up or will be shipped beginning June 1, 2026.

• If you choose to pick up your print in Delaware: the frame shown is included.

Plot 20260321114617 CMYK Halftone Roses

24″ x 36″ watercolor, $500

Purchase Terms:

• Purchased works must remain on view at The Grand Opera House during the month of May 2026. Works purchased must be picked up or will be shipped beginning June 1, 2026.

• If you choose to pick up your print in Delaware: the frame shown is included.

Plot 20180826113612 CMY Tangled Delaunay Umbrellas

24″ x 36″ watercolor, $500

Purchase Terms:

• Purchased works must remain on view at The Grand Opera House during the month of May 2026. Works purchased must be picked up or will be shipped beginning June 1, 2026.

• If you choose to pick up your print in Delaware: the frame shown is included.

Plot 20260313160239 CMY Herringbone

24″ x 36″ watercolor, $500

Purchase Terms:

• Purchased works must remain on view at The Grand Opera House during the month of May 2026. Works purchased must be picked up or will be shipped beginning June 1, 2026.

• If you choose to pick up your print in Delaware: the frame shown is included.

Plot 20240121090524 CMYK Carousel

24″ x 36″ watercolor, $500

Purchase Terms:

• Purchased works must remain on view at The Grand Opera House during the month of May 2026. Works purchased must be picked up or will be shipped beginning June 1, 2026.

• If you choose to pick up your print in Delaware: the frame shown is included.

Plot 20240123132719 CMYK Carousel

24″ x 36″ watercolor, $500

Purchase Terms:

• Purchased works must remain on view at The Grand Opera House during the month of May 2026. Works purchased must be picked up or will be shipped beginning June 1, 2026.

• If you choose to pick up your print in Delaware: the frame shown is included.

Plot 20210908122256 CMYK Carousel

24″ x 36″ watercolor, ~~$500~~ Sold

Purchase Terms:

• Purchased works must remain on view at The Grand Opera House during the month of May 2026. Works purchased must be picked up or will be shipped beginning June 1, 2026.

• If you choose to pick up your print in Delaware: the frame shown is included.

Digital representation. Photo coming soon.

Plot 20260308150624 CMY Tangled Triangles

24″ x 36″ watercolor, $500

Purchase Terms:

• Purchased works must remain on view at The Grand Opera House during the month of May 2026. Works purchased must be picked up or will be shipped beginning June 1, 2026.

• If you choose to pick up your print in Delaware: the frame shown is included.

Plot 20240904054940 CMYK Truchet Tiles

24″ x 36″ watercolor, $500

Purchase Terms:

• Purchased works must remain on view at The Grand Opera House during the month of May 2026. Works purchased must be picked up or will be shipped beginning June 1, 2026.

• If you choose to pick up your print in Delaware: the frame shown is included.

Plot 20260424040401 CMYK Truchet Tiles

24″ x 36″ watercolor, $500

Purchase Terms:

• Purchased works must remain on view at The Grand Opera House during the month of May 2026. Works purchased must be picked up or will be shipped beginning June 1, 2026.

• If you choose to pick up your print in Delaware: the frame shown is included.

Plot 20260320141609 CMYK Phyllotaxis Spiral

24″x36″ watercolor, $500

Purchase Terms:

• Purchased works must remain on view at The Grand Opera House during the month of May 2026. Works purchased must be picked up or will be shipped beginning June 1, 2026.

• If you choose to pick up your print in Delaware: the frame shown is included.

Plot 20250203032040 CMYK Truchet Tile Rug

24″x36″ watercolor, $500

Purchase Terms:

• Purchased works must remain on view at The Grand Opera House during the month of May 2026. Works purchased must be picked up or will be shipped beginning June 1, 2026.

• If you choose to pick up your print in Delaware: the frame shown is included.

Plot 20180509033754 CMY Tangled Delaunay

24″x36″ watercolor, $500

Purchase Terms:

• Purchased works must remain on view at The Grand Opera House during the month of May 2026. Works purchased must be picked up or will be shipped beginning June 1, 2026.

• If you choose to pick up your print in Delaware: the frame shown is included.

Sold Plots (unavailable for purchase):

Paul Rickards @ The Grand Opera HouseWilmington, DelawareMay 2026 Gallery Sales

About the artist

Pen Plotter Works On View

Paul Rickards @ The Grand Opera House
Wilmington, Delaware
May 2026 Gallery Sales