P e t e r A l a n R i c h a r d

'Every child enters life as an artist; 
the challenges come as the
artists' "child" enters adulthood'.
Peter Alan Richard
*Appropriated from Pablo Picasso. 

ARTIST STATEMENT

Principles of painting, drawing, collage, printmaking and sculpture all come together into one application. Because of Richard's mixed media presentation, it's difficult to box-in defining what "is" painting -- a painting -- or a drawing for his prolific work.  Whether on paper or a plywood panel, a wide-range of content goes through a vigorous and rigorous process.  Applying mainly oil paint with plaster, collage, charcoal and industrial materials, he develops richly dynamic surfaces, often as "textural field" pieces. Often integrated with representational imagery, Richard's abstract-like work exemplifies a Contemporary unconventionality and avant garde experimentation while bringing forth boldness, sensitivity and playfulness with a dark spin.

Richard has long had a fascination with the dynamics of the media and technology.  From 2001 to present, Richard has made his work in the context of structural walls and billboards.

When the rampant news reports of the Southern California wild fires hit in October of '03, Richard empathetically responded with his "walls, fire and memory" series.  As he has had a history of fires throughout his personal life, notions of loss resurfaced.  "Untitled (firewall i)" on paper depicts bold colors of fire and warm earth tones, merging with a wall-like texture -- influenced by Spanish painter, Antoni Tapies.  Oil paint, charcoal and plaster have concealed integrated collage imagery -- or removed by his sanding of the surface.  For him, it's ok; change and loss is inevitable. Another underlying metaphor behind Richard's motivation: media facts and information often get filtered, covered and/or lost.  Nothing is too serious as ballpoint pen marks up playful circles.  Subsequently, "untitled (firewall i)" beckons the viewer into a child-like investigation of the surface's details.  It's a reminder to play and enjoy no matter what life gives -- or takes away.

In Richard's ongoing "space" series, he appropriates images from his personal and virtual female rapports.  These images from myspace.com work into his painting, photography, drawing and collage.  While myspace.com has received its share of unfavorable media attention of controversy, Richard's intent with this website has been about genuinely connecting with these women to forward his messages of virtual beauty, innocense and play.

What is making art?  For Richard, here he asserts:

"Making art is necessary; and is a favorable way to vent, invent and contribute from dealing with my own personal challenges and awarenesses.  The ride's not all a struggle, nor always "work" -- moreover a privilege, opportunity and Joy.   I think of my art like layers of our human psyche -- as these art works also have layers under the surface. Immersed personal barriers and my paintings' content of marks are the details worth managing; necessary really, whether: apparent, nebulous, latent, welcomed, avoided, unbeknownst, realized or covered up.  I have a profound inclination to connect with these layers.   Its about relationships.  With myself.  With people. Its not important that my viewers always get my meaning; for I prefer others to have their own interpretation.  Overall, I care to provide my audience with the opportunity to participate in my art works’ dialog. Overall, if my art can get them to feel something, then, I have accomplished something best worthwhile."

P E T E R   A L A N   R I C H A R D
m i x e d   m e d i a   p a i n t e r

---

Born: Feb 3, Orange, CA
Currently residing: Los Angeles, CA

Education

2002     Certificate, TTL, Oakland, CA, Art/business
1998     BA, SSU, Rohnert Park, CA , Art,History, Psych
1994     Undergraduate,CSULB, Long Beach, CA, Drawing
1993     Certificate, UCI, Irvine, CA, GraphicDesign
1992     Transfer,OCC, Costa Mesa, CA, Art/General

Related Experience

'03-'05    Guest, UCLA Warner Studios, Printmaking, panel construction
’98-’99   Overseas study, Italy, Culture/History/Painting
’01-’02   Art Teacher, M. Collins, Petaluma, CA, Mixed media process
’00-'02    Tech. Assistant, SSU, Rohnert Park, CA, Tool shop monitor

Solo Exhibitions

2008
"Evo", 30 collective art pieces, Evo loft building, Los Angeles, CA

2008
"Night for Joey Ramone", temporary of displayed works,
Red Pearl, Los Angeles, Ca
2007              
"naughty school concubine", temporary installation (live sketch performance), e3rd st., Los Angeles, CA
2004              
“Mixed”, Be Well Chiropractic, Encino, CA                        

Group Exhibitions

2008        "Honoring life", Auction, Woodland Hills, CA       
2008        "LA tonite", 2nd st Cigars Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2008        "xx/xy", Hanger 1018, Los Angeles, CA
2008        "groupies", Monte Cristo, Los Angeles, CA
2008        "live sketch performance 4", e3rd, Los Angeles, CA
2007        "Rockit", The Grind, Mar Vista, CA
2007        "walls on bricks", Weiland, Los Angeles, CA
2007        "Body & Mind", Core Clinic, San Jose, CA
2007        "art of nightclubbing", IVAR, Hollywood, CA
2007        "art. food. music.", Tangiers, Los Feliz, CA
2007        "Art Display", Miss Kitty's Parlor @ Dragonfly, Hollywood, CA
2007        "collab with Frank Ryan", e3rd st. lounge, Los Angeles, CA
2007        "process monica", Star Factory, Los Angeles, CA
2007        "neighbor affair", Studio 2921, Culver City, CA
2007        "Mayapalooza", Maya De Leone, Pasadena, CA
2007        "fantasy art", Cigars 2nd st. gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2007        "abstractions", Royal Claytons, Los Angeles, CA
2006        "my space... in process 2", IVAR, Hollywood, CA
2006        "my space.. in process", The Monte Christo, Hollywood, CA
2005        “TOO LIPS”, Boardners, Hollywood, CA
2004        “Peace of Art”, Keller Williams, Marina Del Rey, CA
2004         consigned work, SOHO gallery, Studio City, CA
2003        “Floating to the surface”, 5900 St., Emeryville, CA
2002         consigned work, Hang, 567 Sutter St., San Francisco, CA
2001        “Reconstructing Reality” City of Oakland Gallery, Oakland, CA
2000        “Collaborations”, Edward Jones, Sebastopol, CA
1999        “Cheap Art Salon”, Campus Gallery, SSU, Rohnert Park, CA
1998        “Cheap Art Salon”, Campus Gallery, SSU, Rohnert Park, CA

Review and Award:

2008      "Evo: downtown LA's new 'green' condos,

              Los Angeles Times, Home and Garden, October 2, 2008

2008      5th place, "spotlight V", xhibit.org online competition

2008      2nd place, "Spotlight IV", xhibit.org online competition

2007      1st place,"Body & Mind" International Art Competition,
             Selected by art consultant, A.D. Aldouby, San Jose, CA

2006         place, "spotlight II", xhibit.org online comp.

2005      9th place, "spotlight I", xhibit.org online competition

2001      "Artists make enduring response to 9/11 attack"  
              The Mont Clarion (CA) p. 01, Published on 12-25-01   
              B. ROSCOE, STAFF WRITER

Commissions and Collectors

2008        Monica Ford, Los Angeles, CA

2008        Paul Thornton, Boise, ID
2008        Honoring  Life  auctionee, CA
2008        Alicia Sixtos, Los Angeles, CA
2008        Fusion Restaurant, San Diego, CA       
2007        Monica Ford, Los Angeles, CA
2007        Tracy McCormick, Tempe, AZ / Los Angeles,CA
2007        Jackie Orchard, Pinellao, FL
2007        Alley Douros, Salt Lake City, UT
2007        Jason Ha, Los Angeles, CA
2007        Maya De Leon, Pasadena, CA
2007        Asra Iftekaruddin, Los Angeles, CA
2006        Gina Hansen, Sherman Oaks, CA
2006        Kristina Eil, Ventura, CA
2006        Robyn Williams, Manhattan Beach, CA
2006        Shehzod and Shafina Thawer, Sherman Oaks, CA
2006        Angelique Hennessey, Los Feliz, CA
2005        Keller Williams, Marina Del Rey, CA
2005        Erin Nemeier, Brentwood, CA
2004        Brian Benkenstalk, Venice, CA
2004        Chris Tyler, Venice, CA
2004        Dan V. Design, Los Angeles, CA
2004        Julie Jacobs, Santa Cruz, CA
2003        Kristen Schreyer, Santa Barbara, CA
2003        Sara Rogers, San Francisco, CA
1997        Trader Joe’s, store mural, Santa Rosa, CA

Bodies of Work

2008
"alicia": a portrait painting series paying homage to the hispanic community.  with actress/model "alicia" as the focal point, a mix of media touches on grafitti art, LA's urban egdy grit counter-balanced with alicia's soft, femine beauty -- tho she's noticeably more than meets the eye.
Cuvler City, CA

2007-'08               
"process monica"  a mixed media painting/drawing series of actress/model, Monica Ford and other lady friends befriended on myspace.com.
Culver City, CA

2007                
"shift": mixed media (found objects) wall sculpture pieces.
Culver City, CA

2006-2007           
"angelique" series: mixed media pieces on panels and paper of friend/actress/model, Angelique Hennessey.  Culver City, CA

2006                
"'my space in process' series: mixed media pieces of myspace.com friends and  my relationship to them, Culver City, CA"

2005             
“dress series : expanding content and concept spawned from ‘Asie portrait series’, Culver City, CA”

2005                
“Asie : a social-narrative portrait series: appropriating and combining painting, drawing, printmaking,  principles and elements, Culver City, CA”

2004                
"Integration: mixed media works on paper of the wall and fire motif, Venice, CA."

2004             
"Memory Series: mixed media on paper dealing with childhood experiences, Venice, CA."

2004                
"Fire Series: mixed media works on paper in response to Southern Cal. wild fires, Venice, CA."

2003                
"Wall Series: mixed media works on panels reacting to the human dichotomy, Oakland, CA."

2002                
“Middle Ground Series: mixed media works in socio-psycho-political contexts, Oakland, CA.”

2001                
“Mixed media on panel in response to news media reaction to terrorist attacks, Cotati, CA.”

2001           
“Sculptural Series: high relief mixed media content pieces on panel, Cotati, CA”

2000           
“Collaborations Series: works in conjunction with Sarah Rogers, and Frank Ryan, Cotati, CA.”

2000                
“A New Beginning Piece: panel painting in oil / mixed media and new applications, Cotati, CA.”

1999                
“Model Series: figure drawings and paintings on paper.  Facilitated by Philip Bueller, Santa Rosa, CA, and hired models at home studio, Cotati, CA.”

1999                
“The Relationship Series: two mixed media works on paper dealing with the personal dynamics of ending relationships, Sebastopol, CA.”

1998                                 
Student Body: mixed media drawings on paper, SSU, Rohnert Park, CA.”