Participating Artists

Richard Prather

Biography / Artist Statement

I work in a representational style and endeavor to capture “that spark” that attracted me to the particular subject, be it, the play of light in the atmosphere, a note of color or the contrast in shapes or values. It’s that “feeling” I get in those moments of discovery that I’m trying to share via my paintings.

Bio: I grew up in Texas and I’ve spent most of my life in the outdoors. I have always preferred being in nature, from my childhood days in Scouting to a career as a Wildlife Biologist working in environmental protection. My love of the natural environment lead me to earned a B.S. degree in Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences from Texas A&M University.

I began my artistic journey simply as a kid that liked to drawl boats and airplanes on the jacket cover of his schoolbooks. It wasn’t until I entered college that I began a more serious pursuit of art. I spent the first 20 years or so learning the craftsmanship of painting in acrylics and oils. It wasn’t until I stumbled upon painting in plein air that I truly began to see and understand the complexities of shape, value and color. I credit the numerous plein air workshops and plein air competitions with having the greatest impact on the quality of my work.

I currently live in village of Placitas, New Mexico with my wife Sharla and our sweet Papillion Coty.

Representation:
Masterpiece Gallery Santa Fe, Santa Fe, NM
The Karen Wray Gallery, Los Alamos, NM
Marta Stafford Fine Art Gallery, Marble Falls, TX

Memberships:
Signature Member of the Oil Painters of America
Master Signature Member Plein Air Painters New Mexico

Most Recent selected Awards and Events:

• 2021: ArtsThrive Juried Exhibition and Sale, Albuquerque Museum
  Oil Painters of America, Juried Western Regional Exhibition, Wichita, KS
• 2020: Award of Excellence , Oil Painters of America, Juried National Salon Show.
  Award of Excellence , Oil Painters of American, Western Regional Juried Exhibition.
  Quick Draw Winner, 14th Annual Plein Air Invitational, Borrego Springs, CA.
• 2019: Oil Painters of America National Juried Exhibition, Saint George, Utah.
  Art on the Llano Estacado, Museum of Texas Tech University Association, Lubbock, TX.
  Poster Award Winner, South Park Plein Air, Fairplay, CO.