Alec Richardson

ALEC EAMES RICHARDSON
Oil on Paper Paintings:

"Looking Back"
Oil on Paper, Image 12" x 8", Framed 19.5" x 15.5"

As an artist, I am captivated by the land with all its power, mystery, and poetic implications. I am drawn to subjects and locales that, for me, contain much more than simply a view. Indeed it is my goal as a painter to express the energy of a place as opposed to its physical reality. That being said, sometimes my work may be quite faithful to the places that inspire it. Often though, I seek to distill a subject down to the simplest forms that have moved me, leaving the actual “look” of the place far behind.

While I enjoy painting with a variety of media and supports, aesthetically I am often drawn to multi-layered surfaces. My underpaintings may include accidental marks or even the ghost of an earlier idea or composition, which, through the creative process, may be brought forward to play a role in the final image. I am fascinated by the beauty and truth within personal marks and gestures made simply as a thumbnail sketch. As I paint, I seek both to maintain and develop this authenticity. Over the last few years I have frequently used small, quick, works on paper as a stepping-off point for larger oils on panel or canvas.

A native New Englander, I have painted professionally for over twenty years and am continually inspired by our region’s beauty as well as our important place in American art.