Author: WSA

May Artist of the Month

Meet Mark Richards

Artist Mark Richards describes himself as an “Artist Adventurer,” whose escapades began at age 11. He won his first award for painting at 13 and is grateful that art has always played a major role in his life. Richards pursues art to “find universal truths: both aesthetically and spiritually.” He likes to think of his art as part of the greater good. He paints “from life, from memory and from emotion” and seeks to evoke emotion from the viewer.

Inspired by his grandmother, Richards grew up in Toledo, Ohio, went to Ohio State where he trained as an American Realist and graduated from University of California Santa Barbara with a degree in Sculpture. His career was in professional photography which allowed him to pursue art in the workplace. Now retired, he is enjoying the evolution of his painting. He considers his greatest strength to be his color fluency or tonalism. His style has morphed from realism to abstraction and sometimes back again. “I believe that all art is composed of abstractions of color forms, and all abstraction comes from nature.” He has spent the last 5 years pursuing abstraction.

His abstractions have an emphasis on color exploration and “ask the viewer to explore different emotions and meanings.” Richards refers to his works as “Color Seasons’: “ephemeral images…that suit the temporary nature of the motifs from nature with long freely applied sweeps of thick paint coursing across each canvas; colors surging forward and back.” These vibrant paintings will be on display at the Mosesian Center for the Arts in their show titled Flow.

Because his work is primarily color based, Richards is able to bounce between abstraction and realism. He always uses oil as his medium but often will thin the oil so that it behaves almost like watercolor do a quick study or underpainting. He enjoys plein air painting and often can be found painting at the MFA. He has recently been working on The Dead Christ with Angels in the Renaissance Gallery at the MFA. Other artists that he admires are Neil Welliver, Charles Sheeler, Louise Nevelson and Marsden Hartley.

Richards has always been intrigued by the history of European Art and Buddhist Iconography. In addition to painting, he creates wood sculptures inspired by Northwest Coast Indian Art. His sculptures are “totems: a memory stick” of important events and emotions, related to family, nature, the meaning of life.

“Truths are revealed when you make art. The more you practice the more truths are revealed. These truths are both spiritual and artistic; in art the basic elements are revealed.” Landscape painting, Richards believes, is the “artists’ expression of self within the context of the natural environment. He refers to these abstract landscapes as “magical landscapes; color being the key tool to unlock the magic.”

Instagram@MarkRichards7892

The WSA is happy to welcome new exhibiting member Rob Colman. Drawing on inspiration from Leonardo DaVinci, Rob discovered the artist within and has created a captivating body of work. To see and read more about Rob’s artwork, visit his WSA artist page 

Welcome to the WSA Rob!

April Artist of the Month 

Meet David Holt

Unlike many artists, David Holt has never taken a lesson. As a child he drew all the time. As an adult he decided to add color to his drawings and began oil painting. When Holt was working, art was a hobby, a way of relaxing, and he often painted at night while listening to music, in a spare bedroom which he made into a studio.

Looking for a less cumbersome medium, Holt tried his hand at watercolor. “Many people warned me that watercolor was very difficult to master but I developed my own technique and I love the convenience.” Holt’s process begins with a detailed freehand drawing; “This is the most difficult part; when I start to add color, things begin to flow. I use vibrant colors and I am able to achieve the photorealism that I love.” Viewers are often surprised to find out that his paintings are watercolor for this reason.

As far as subject matter, Holt is looking for anything that sparks his interest. “When I finish a painting, I’m always thinking, ‘what’s next?’” He enjoys different types of landscapes, cityscapes and still life. He often focuses on iconic spots in Boston, Plymouth, Cape Cod and other places where he travels or sometimes imagines from compilations of photographs. Because his drawings are so comprehensive, he does most of his work in the studio from photographs. He uses illustration board rather than watercolor paper.

Although Holt has not had formal training, he has always subscribed to art publications and has studied the work of fellow artists. He has become a member of many art organizations: he is currently an exhibiting member of the Cape Cod Art Center, New England Watercolor Society, American Watercolor Society, Plymouth Center for the Arts, North River Arts Society and Hull Artists. Although it sometimes gets confusing, he faithfully exhibits at all of them and has won several awards. Finding himself in the company of the most accomplished Boston artists, he has also exhibited at the Annual Juried Show of the Guild of Boston Artists. 

So, what is next for Holt? He has been asked to teach at the Cape Cod Center for the Arts. He is looking forward to the next challenge and passing on the techniques he has developed to other artists. (Perhaps most special is mentoring his grandson who is sharing in this artist’s passion.) (Another) of the greatest rewards for Holt comes from the positive feedback of his viewers. He enjoys the ability to “capture a time and place, an object or any subject that (he) finds interesting and transforming that image into a vibrant painting or drawing.”

The WSA is happy to welcome new exhibiting member Laura Scheuerell. She is an acrylic painter as well as a mixed media artist with a keen eye and heart for nature. We are grateful to the Howard Street Studios members for sending Laura our way. To see more of her artwork, visit her WSA artist page 

Welcome to the WSA Laura!