Studio Tour with the Great Richard Whitten

There are not too many painters left that you can say are truly original, but I had the chance to catch up with one. Richard Whitten’s paintings are honestly some of the most beautiful pieces of art I’ve ever come across. The images I’ve captured of this recent studio visit really don’t do justice as to how beautifully crafted and painted these pieces are.

Richard’s paintings are inspired by history and classical architecture. His brush is so precise that you can almost mistake these paintings for computer generated Art. It’s even hard to tell from up close which is why there are no details of the work in this article. Visually, his paintings are stunning, but I almost feel like a kid stuck in a 1950’s candy store. Everywhere I turned these vibrant colors and patterns reminded me of candy canes which for me was an enjoyable experience. At least for me, the paintings helped me reconnect with childhood memories. Richard’s paintings are so architecturally precise that I also couldn’t help but feel that I was in a place of worship which really throws you off at first.

Richard paints on wood, so you can imagine the amount of work that goes into carving and smoothing these massive wooden canvases. Sometimes two or three pieces have to be cut, glued, and supported together just to gain the size he’s looking for. His work ranges in size anywhere from a book to a large doorway, or even a wall.

Equally as impressive are the drawings and prints he has lying around which are the blueprints of all his paintings. Details are everything and there is no shortage of these in his paintings. Light sources are almost perfect to give it a three dimensional feeling as well as shading. He often adds intricate patterns to the background of his images that reward the viewers for stepping in closer.

Richard’s love for painting is eclipsed by his love for his cat; a cat that sits on top of all his drawings as if they were a resting place.

With everything set aside, we managed some quick games of pool. I lost both the games I played. Not much of a pool player, but here’s a nice shot below of the upstairs portion of his barn/studio. Overall, it was an impressive showing by Richard. As always, I like to update you guys on all my artists, so updates will be posted as they come. If this didn’t quench your thirst for paint, check out Richard’s website at www.richardcwhitten.com to see all the goodies he’s created over the years.