Questions and Artists: James Richards

“Little Chicks” by James Richards.

The following interview with James Richards, I think, is an example of what I try to do. It shows the personality and love of painting these artists have, along with examples of their work.

I first talked to James maybe seven years ago. I was struggling with a watercolor at the Door County Plein Air Festival Quick Paint. He walked by, stopped and gave me a positive comment.

He is an unbelievably skilled artist, self-taught, in complete control of his medium. This is his ninth year as an invited artist at the festival and when you see his work, you will know why he is one of the most popular artists at the Door County Plein Air Festival. His work can be viewed at artistjamesrichards.com.

Randy Rasmussen (RR): James, when did you realize your gift for art?

James Richards (JR): That’s a tough question. Drawing and coloring, from childhood on, was always my most comfortable form of communication and expression. A little bit of talent and a lot of practice, frustration, sweat and tears have given me the opportunity to paint and share as a way of life. That is the gift. To see and be moved by the beauty in everything and have the faculties and venue to share that with others, what a joyful existence.

RR: Where were you born and raised?

JR: I was born and raised in the suburbs of Atlanta. We always had some nature around us. As kids, we were always tromping around the streams and lakes, building forts in the woods, and running wild with the horses. We also had some property in the mountains we often camped out on. This helped me develop a love for nature early on in life and instilled in me a passion and vision to express visually with paint.

RR: Growing up, did you have a teacher or family member who gave you encouragement in the pursuit of art?

JR: My uncle, Terry Leonard, was my biggest influence. He taught me to draw from life at an early age. He opened the world of art to me through the paintings of his we had in our home. I studied over and over any books or magazines on art. They were bibles to me.

“Green Pastures” by James Richards.

RR: I know you now paint in oil. Did you start out in oils or have you tried other media?

JR: Early on, I worked in pastels, watercolors, acrylics; just about anything I could get my hands on, often mixing them in a variety of techniques and experiments. Upon a visit to the Smithsonian for a French Impressionist exhibition, I discovered a quality of oil paint that inspires me still today. I rarely touch any other mediums now.

RR: I know you are a self-taught artist. Over the years you have refined your skills to an incredible level. Do you still have an occasional painting that you consider a failure?

JR: Haha! If there are no failures, there is no learning. They hurt but they are a fact of life.

RR: When you are getting ready to start a plein air painting, what is the first thing you think of when you look down at the blank canvas?

JR: Design is the first thing I think of – how the essential shapes lead and move the eye around the canvas. In doing so, I try to develop a clear vision of the finished painting. Then I can attack the canvas with boldness, confidence and a passion that allows for much more expression.

RR: I know you are a prolific teacher. What is a class like with James Richards?

JR: I spend the first half-hour talking about concepts and fundamentals of the visual language. I’ll then do a painting to demonstrate the application of those ideas. Then we usually take a break. The students return to their easels and I help them each to understand the essence of their subject. What I really try to get across in the classroom is how to see; to see as an artist, one sees the relationship of everything to one another, not outlined things. The students spend the remainder of the day painting with input and advice from myself and other students.

RR: In your classes, is there one common mistake you see beginners make over and over?

JR: The most common mistake I see is fear. Fear prohibits learning.

RR: How would you describe your current work? Has your work changed over the last several years?

JR: My entire approach to art has changed quite a bit over the past few years. Painting, for me, used to be about finding a pretty scene with nice color. My paintings were sentimental and sweet. Now, subject is secondary to the abstract dialogue created by light. They are now a more truthful personal expression of the essence of my subject. My work has taken off since I abandoned the idea of the quintessential plein air landscape to follow my own personal vision.

RR: How many colors do you have on your current palette and what are they?

“Pensive” by James Richards.

JR: My palette changes a bit from day to day but here’s a typical rundown of my colors: Cadmium yellow, Cadmium yellow lemon, vermillion, permanent rose, ultramarine blue, viridian, Cassel earth, and titanium white.

RR: You are one of the most popular invitees to the Door County Plein Air Festival. Do you have a favorite place to paint in Door County?

JR: Door County is a place I connected with years ago. There is so much variety of visual inspiration and hospitality that I, at one time, considered moving there, but was talked out of it because of the brutal winters. I try to explore different areas each year but am always drawn to the water and boats, which have always been a favorite subject. Each town around the coast has its own charm. The farms, barns, fields and landscape in between are all equally wonderful and beautiful.

RR: Thank you.