Rod believes "to suggest is to create, to detail is to destroy. The more you put into a painting, the less involved the viewer becomes. I spent years copying photographs. That kind of realism can be very impressive, but not creative. My style has evolved into something more personal. An artist should interpret his subject rather than copy it. I appreciate artists that are ahead of their time, the so called 'risk- takers', because most great works of art are the result of some kind of risk taking."

Receiving his Bachelor of Arts degree at Tarkio College in Missouri, McGehee later had an opportunity to study at the world famous, Rhode Island School of Design. He also studied with Ray Vinella a Taos, New Mexico artist,. McGehee's first one man show in 1984 at Wagner Gallery in Bastrop, Texas was a complete sell-out. Now his paintings hang in private and corporate collections from Beverly Hills to Boston. The National Medal of Honor Museum in Chattanooga, Tennessee commissioned Rod to paint the museum's first portrait.

Today Rod's paintings are a travelogue of his visits throughout Europe and the US. His recent commitment to painting full time has created an energy and excitement in the work that is contagious to the viewer. In November 1998 a showing of new work resulted in phenomenal sales. Energized by the public's response to his art, Rod has been hard at work creating new paintings, the last one of which is always his favorite.