Richard Hall
"A blank canvas...it has no character. As you change its surface, it develops character...the challenge is to create character that inspires."
- Richard Hall
Artist Statement
With every painting a new journey awaits. I am inspired by nature's settings, from serene sunrises and sunsets to the ominous strength of storms and dark clouds. I incorporate the lessons I've learned in my years of painting while weaving new ideas into my latest creations. My paintings bring a balance of space and light, giving a sense of tranquility that goes beyond a literal translation of the landscape.
I begin each painting with multiple layers of gesso, sanding between each layer to prepare the surface. The paint is applied in thin layers, alternating colored washes and tinted glazes, which result in subtle changes in tone and depth. Each layer must dry between applications, and painting 60 or more layers is not uncommon. The paint particles suspended in the glazes catch the light and reflect it back to the viewer, creating a luminescent finish and translucent quality.
For me, oil painting is a connection to the past. There is no shortcut to creating an oil painting - it takes patience, skill and especially practice. Although some technological advances have been made in materials in recent years, the practice of oil painting has remained the same over the centuries; it's all about putting brush to canvas. I continue to learn from master painters by studying their techniques as I explore new methods to resolve creative challenges.
It's exciting when my art takes a viewer on their own journey. This is when our paths cross and I enjoy listening to the variety of experiences, memories and feelings my painting evokes in others. I often gain a new perspective and I hope the viewer is enriched by the experience.
As a boy growing up in England, Richard spent many hours watching his grandfather create fine furniture. "The man was a master craftsman, employing traditional tools and working methods handed down through generations. He passed on to me to joy of creating something unique. I carry on these traditions in my own work." Today as an adult, he views himself as actually building a painting, in perfect analogy to his grandfather building furniture.
"As I 'build' a painting, it is often the actual working methods that I am most drawn to. As I learned to finish fine furniture with layer upon layer of polish and wax, so I now find myself working with layer upon layer of color. This method of working triggers memories and feelings that I channel into my art, and it enables me to give form to my ideas."
Among Hall's enthusiasts are many corporate and public collectors, including:
• Trump Taj Mahal and Trump Plaza (New York)
• Christie's Contemporary Art (New York)
• Princess Cruise Ship Lines (Milano)
• Wardeh Gimtex (Saudi Arabia)
• Caesar's Lake Tahoe (Nevada)
• Hyatt Wiakalea (Hawaii)
• Hughes Aircraft Corporation Headquarters (San Diego)
• Sunland Development (San Diego)
• Arizona Commission for the Arts (Phoenix, AZ)
• Hyatt Regency (Denver, CO)
• The Brayton International Collection (High Point, SC)
• Discovery Land Company (San Francisco, CA)
• Estancia Golf Club (Scottsdale, AZ)
• Ironhorse Golf Club (Whitefish, MT)
While his exhibitions are too numerous to list fully, among the largest are Los Angeles Artexpo, New York Artexpo, Tokyo International Art Show, Miami International Art Exposition, Art Asia Hong Kong, Art Detour (Phoenix, AZ), Designers' Showcase House (Phoenix, AZ), and Celebration of Fine Art (Scottsdale, AZ).
- Richard Hall
Artist Statement
With every painting a new journey awaits. I am inspired by nature's settings, from serene sunrises and sunsets to the ominous strength of storms and dark clouds. I incorporate the lessons I've learned in my years of painting while weaving new ideas into my latest creations. My paintings bring a balance of space and light, giving a sense of tranquility that goes beyond a literal translation of the landscape.
I begin each painting with multiple layers of gesso, sanding between each layer to prepare the surface. The paint is applied in thin layers, alternating colored washes and tinted glazes, which result in subtle changes in tone and depth. Each layer must dry between applications, and painting 60 or more layers is not uncommon. The paint particles suspended in the glazes catch the light and reflect it back to the viewer, creating a luminescent finish and translucent quality.
For me, oil painting is a connection to the past. There is no shortcut to creating an oil painting - it takes patience, skill and especially practice. Although some technological advances have been made in materials in recent years, the practice of oil painting has remained the same over the centuries; it's all about putting brush to canvas. I continue to learn from master painters by studying their techniques as I explore new methods to resolve creative challenges.
It's exciting when my art takes a viewer on their own journey. This is when our paths cross and I enjoy listening to the variety of experiences, memories and feelings my painting evokes in others. I often gain a new perspective and I hope the viewer is enriched by the experience.
As a boy growing up in England, Richard spent many hours watching his grandfather create fine furniture. "The man was a master craftsman, employing traditional tools and working methods handed down through generations. He passed on to me to joy of creating something unique. I carry on these traditions in my own work." Today as an adult, he views himself as actually building a painting, in perfect analogy to his grandfather building furniture.
"As I 'build' a painting, it is often the actual working methods that I am most drawn to. As I learned to finish fine furniture with layer upon layer of polish and wax, so I now find myself working with layer upon layer of color. This method of working triggers memories and feelings that I channel into my art, and it enables me to give form to my ideas."
Among Hall's enthusiasts are many corporate and public collectors, including:
• Trump Taj Mahal and Trump Plaza (New York)
• Christie's Contemporary Art (New York)
• Princess Cruise Ship Lines (Milano)
• Wardeh Gimtex (Saudi Arabia)
• Caesar's Lake Tahoe (Nevada)
• Hyatt Wiakalea (Hawaii)
• Hughes Aircraft Corporation Headquarters (San Diego)
• Sunland Development (San Diego)
• Arizona Commission for the Arts (Phoenix, AZ)
• Hyatt Regency (Denver, CO)
• The Brayton International Collection (High Point, SC)
• Discovery Land Company (San Francisco, CA)
• Estancia Golf Club (Scottsdale, AZ)
• Ironhorse Golf Club (Whitefish, MT)
While his exhibitions are too numerous to list fully, among the largest are Los Angeles Artexpo, New York Artexpo, Tokyo International Art Show, Miami International Art Exposition, Art Asia Hong Kong, Art Detour (Phoenix, AZ), Designers' Showcase House (Phoenix, AZ), and Celebration of Fine Art (Scottsdale, AZ).
