Richard writes,
My truth lies somewhere between a life well lived thus far… and the dreams of what can still be.
The discovery and joy of painting came to me quite late in my life path, but not unexpectedly. Landscape photography was my chosen creative medium for thirty years after attending Brooks Institute in Santa Barbara. I used large, medium and small format cameras, and primarily black and white images and the magic of polaroid transfers on watercolor paper. Most of my adult career was spent as an entrepreneur importer and graphic designer. Then in 2006 I became more heavily involved in the art industry as the product manager for Savoir Faire, the exclusive importer of Sennelier fine art materials where the history from the French manufacturer opened my eyes to the impressionist era and to art materials in general. In 2010 I joined with Plein Air Magazine as their Marketing Manager.
In 2001, after taking a painting class in soft pastels to enhance my Polaroid transfers, I was swept away by the possibility of actually being able to paint. After years of painting landscapes in pastel, my passion now is painting the landscape en plein air exclusively with oils.
Painting is a friend that always brings me great joy and peace. I paint primarily because it constantly allows me to open my heart. The little moments looking out a car window at an extraordinary sight, or seeing the way a strip of late afternoon light streaks across the meadow— if my paintings can allow the viewer access into a world that is always present, but often taken for grant, then I have contributed something.
Richard is the former Co-Chair (along with Paul Kratter) of the California Art Club — SF Bay Area Chapter. He has enjoyed artist residencies at Banff Art Center and Whiskeytown National Recreation Area. He’s exhibited with the California Art Club, and numerous annual shows presented by Marin Agricultural Land Trust (MALT), Napa Valley Art Festival, Laguna Plein Air Invitational, Sonoma Plein Air, Marinscapes, and others. He teaches classes and workshops throughout the SF Bay Area. Information on his classes can be found on his website.
His awards include,
2023 – 2nd Place – Mill Valley PleinAir Invitational
2021 – Third Place – LPAPA “Best of PleinAir”
2021 – Third Place – 6″ SQUARED exhibition
2020 – Third Place – CAC “Our World Reimagined” Online Exhibition
2020 – Awarded Signature Artist Status from Laguna PleinAir
2019 – Best of Show/Peoples Choice – Winters PleinAir
2017 – Best of Show – On the Waterfront Gallery “New Zealand Retrospective” Show
2016 – Third Place – LPAPA “Less is More” Juried Show
2015 – “Purchase Sponsor Award” – Zion National Park Plein Air Invitational
2013 – “People’s Choice” – “Kindred Spirits” Plein Air
2012 – “People’s Choice” – San Luis Obispo Plein Air Festival
2011 – “Honorable Mention” – San Luis Obispo Plein Air Festival
2010 – “2nd Place” – Napa Valley Mustard Festival
2009 – “Artists Choice” – North Tahoe Plein Air
2008 – “Environmental Award” – Seasons of Martis Plein Air