About Richard
In His Own Words.
About the artist
I live in Sarasota Florida, but grew up in South Texas. I attended Ringling College of Art and Design to study animation but found my true passion in illustration and painting. I transferred to and and graduated from Minneapolis College of Art and Design in 2012 with a BFA in Illustration. I moved back to Florida this June and I am currently showing in 3 galleries.
I did not choose to be an artist, art chose me”
The goal of my art is to channel my thoughts and feelings, leaving a part of me on the mediums that I work with. I hope that when you look at my art you also find a part of yourself. I hope it both wakens and quiets your inner self. It is like a Rorschach test, it is meant to say what it awakens within you as an individual.
My process begins and ends with shapes. All of nature is made of shapes and I start with larger shapes and layer them with smaller shapes, and then I mix them up creating a chaotic effect. I use oil and acrylic to create the layers and use ink to create architectural lines. The mix of media allows me to achieve the effect of controlled chaos. The paint is chaotic and dimensional but tied together with my use of architectural lines. The chaos does not work without the lines and the lines do not work without the chaos and drama of the paint. I utilize light and darkness to heighten the sense of drama within the audience.
My art is first and foremost an expression of myself. I want to show the complexity in all things but also the patterns which exist in all of nature. I hope to capture and express raw emotions with the use of texture, light and darkness.
It is about simultaneously restraining and letting go.
Artist Statement.
My art channels my thoughts and feelings, leaving a part of me on the mediums that I work with. I have Asperger’s Syndrome which is a form of Autism. This is both a blessing and a curse. Asperger’s make communicating and interacting with others difficult. My gift is to be able to see the world, emotions, language and feelings visually. Painting allows me to express these emotions. My art allows me to find myself. I hope that when you look at my art you also find a part of yourself. I hope it both awakens and quiets your inner self. It is like a Rorschach test, it is a reflection of yourself and the feelings within you that the art evokes.
My process begins and ends with shapes. All of nature is made of shapes and I start with larger shapes and layer them with smaller shapes, and then I mix them up creating a chaotic effect. I use mixed mediums to create the layers and use ink to create architectural lines. The mix of media allows me to achieve the effect of controlled chaos. It is about simultaneously restraining and letting go.
A work in progress.
Résumé
Education
Winston School San Antonio 2007
Honors Graduate, 7 First Place Awards UIL State
Ringling College of Art and Design 2007-2009
Minneapolis College of Art and Design 2009-2011
Bachelor of Fine Arts, Illustration
Giving Back
I believe in giving people a hand up and not a hand out. The charities I support help to give others the chance to help themselves. Whether it is help for the visually impaired, or a community resource that is available to the community, we need to give what we can to enable others.
Teach a man to fish and you give him a lifetime of being able to support himself, give him the fish and tomorrow he is still hungry.
Light house for the blind
Light house for the blind is a wonderful organization which helps blind or low vision adults and children. I have participated each year in Art in the Dark. It is one of my favorite events!
Haven for Hope
This group provides resources including group living to Adults who cannot function on their own. I donated a painting to their Art rock and had a great time celebrating with one of their clients, Barry who was celebrating his birthday.
Red Cross / Irma
During the evacuation from hurricane Irma last year my family saw many families in need and we saw the Red Cross reach out to help. So I donated 25% from my gallery proceeds for 3 months to help give back.
Mote Museum
I am a corporate partner with the Mote Aquarium and am donating a painting to their silent Auction Party on the Pass on May 23, 2018.
If you find a marine biology paining to purchase Mention Mote and I will give half the net proceeds to benefit their capital campaign! I love creatures of the sea and the Aquarium is one of my favorite places to visit.
GALLERIES + EXHIBITIONS
Learn more about gallery and exhibition locations and details