The
beauty of nature provides inspiration for artist Robert A. Richert. He
grew up in Southern California at a time when open space was more abundant
than today. Many childhood days were spent exploring nearby fields and
collecting small critters. He has an insatiable curiosity about the natural
world, and he has always loved to draw and paint.
In 1969-70,
he served as an infantryman with the U.S. Army in Vietnam and was awarded
an Army Commendation Medal with a "V" Device for valor. After
his military service, Robert attended California State University,
Long Beach, and earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree. Majoring in Scientific
Illustration, he learned how to apply the knowledge and discipline
of science to the creation of art.
For many years, Robert has shared his enthusiasm and knowledge about
ecology by volunteering as an interpretive naturalist at local nature
preserves. Through his volunteer time and his artwork, he has inspired
many people toward a greater appreciation for the environment. Generous
donations of his paintings and prints have raised thousands of dollars
for conservation efforts.
Mr. Richert
has pursued art full-time since 1980. For most of his early career,
he
specialized in wildlife subjects, and later began to devote
more time to his passion for scenic beauty. Today, he loves to explore
nature’s most beautiful places and then transform these experiences
into dramatic and visually exciting landscapes and seascapes.
Awards, Publications and Honors
1982 - California Duck Stamp.
1983 - People of the Century stamp collection.
1983 - Who's Who in Waterfowl Art, Ray Chapman, Ed.
1984 - 86 - Leigh, Yawkey, Woodson Art Museum: Group exhibition
1989 - Sponsor Artist of the Year, National Waterfowl Alliance
1992 - Artist of the Year, California Ducks Unlimited
1992 - Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History - Group exhibition
1993 - America's Pride: Collector plate series featuring eagles - Bradford
Exchange
1997 - The Best of Wildlife Art: - Hardcover, Published by North Light
Books
1999 - Wildlife Art: - Hardcover, Rockport Publishers
2002 - Connecticut Duck Stamp
Supplementary
Information – Painting
Technique
The rich
diversity of color, texture and form in nature provides endless inspiration
for
Robert A. Richert. His paintings reflect his passion
for scenic beauty. Although he enjoys painting popular natural wonders
such as those that abound in Yosemite Valley, he often seeks out lesser
known, out of the way corners of nature. However, even a familiar scene,
such as the classic view of Yosemite Valley from Inspiration Point, may
change dramatically due to the weather, the season, or the time of day.
Subjects that others may consider cliché, Robert welcomes as a
challenge to his creativity. He seeks to create paintings that rise above
the generic.
Although plein air painting (painting outdoors) is popular among many
landscape artists, Mr. Richert prefers to work in the studio. When outdoors,
he would rather be hiking, exploring, or just spending time observing.
He seldom interprets a scene literally. Instead, Robert prefers to orchestrate
strong compositions using elements from his photographs for reference.
He seeks to capture the feeling or essence, rather than the exact lay
of a particular place.
The great majority of landscape and seascape artists paint in oils.
Robert prefers acrylics. He spent more than twenty years learning to
master this difficult, water-based medium. The acrylic paint is applied
in a succession of thin layers, almost like sketching with a brush. This
method affords more flexibility than slow drying mediums allow. Robert
is continuously refining and editing as he works through a painting,
altering the shape of an ocean wave here or a cloud there, moving a rock,
or even a mountain! Mr. Richert's technique allows him superb control
over color, value (light and dark), texture, and composition. His paintings
are full of rich detail. He seeks to convey the intricate textures and
subtle nuances that abound in nature. In the end, every element of the
painting has been honed to near perfection.
The Hidden Hearts
One of Mr. Richert's first California landscapes featured a large oak
tree in the foreground. He painted a carved heart on the trunk of the
tree. One day he showed the painting to his friend, well-known seascape
artist Violet Parkhurst. Violet liked the heart and suggested that as
a symbol for his love of nature, Robert should include the image in all
of his future paintings. Great idea! Ever since then, Robert has included
one or more hidden hearts in his landscape and seascape paintings. Sometimes,
a rough impression of the shape emerges spontaneously; perhaps in a clump
of tree leaves, a pattern in a cloud or the texture of a rock. Robert
need only alter it a bit. People enjoy studying the details of his paintings
trying to find the hidden hearts. |
