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Richard Hall Biography
Born and raised in England, I graduated from the University of Hull in England with a BFA in painting, and afterwards did a post-graduate degree to become an art teacher. I moved to the United States in 1978, and before I got a job teaching art, I wanted to try selling my own paintings. That proved to be the right path and I have been a professional artist ever since.
For part of my art career, I painted large abstracts. A turning point came in 2006 when I had a mild heart attack. I realized that although I was a successful abstract painter, I wasn't truly challenged. I had always loved realism, and decided to "follow my heart" and paint what I loved.
I love the intimacy of still life painting. I spend hours searching antique stores for interesting objects, and occasionally find vintage toys to bring home for my four young granddaughters. One day, I had a traditional still life composition set up in my studio, and I discovered that my two-year old granddaughter had placed one of her vintage toys into my setup. My first reaction was to laugh, but I quickly realized that adding an unexpected object to a still life created humour and interest.
With a wink, a smile, and a bit of that famous English sense of humour, I tell stories with my paintings. Whether painting model cars hanging from string, vintage toy trucks filled with vegetables, or elaborate Rube-Goldberg type contraptions, my collectors know to "expect the unexpected."
Selected Awards:
- Donor's Award of Excellence 2010 Oil Painters of America
- Art Renewal Center Finalist, Honorable Mention, 2011, 2012
- Southwest Art: 21 Over 31, 2011
- Artist Magazine: Finalist, 2010, 2011
Publications:
- Southwest Art Magazine: May 2012
- American Art Collector, March 2008
- Phoenix Home and Garden, October 2007
Associations:
- Oil Painters of America
- American Society of Traditional Artists
- International Guild of Realism
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