Paul Richards
b. 1949Philippa, 2018
Fired terracotta
6 7/8 x 4 7/8 x 5 1/8 in, 17.5 x 12.5 x 13 cm
Throughout his distinguished career Richards has developed a highly personal style of portraiture which delves deep into the psyche of both his animate and inanimate sitters. In this latest body...
Throughout his distinguished career Richards has developed a highly personal style of portraiture which delves deep into the psyche of both his animate and inanimate sitters. In this latest body of works, and his first exhibition of pastels, Richards presents a collection of people and objects that he wishes to take with him to the next life.
Richards creates works that are simultaneously truthful and subjective, depicting what is before him with physical accuracy while exposing their personality as he sees it, seeking to express something beyond physical appearance. His sitters are never posed, instead either subconsciously, or not, they decide how to be presented. These investigative works reveal the emotional connection between himself and his sitter. The movement between the eyes, nose and mouth is crucial to his work with the slightest nuances revealing something deeper about his sitter.
Only after creating studies in oil and terracotta does Richards begin his pastel drawings. Richards sees his terracottas as thoughts and a means of finding the person. In this terracotta Richards focuses on Philippa’s eyes. Although the nose is often the central point of his work, Richards believes that the reason for the head is the eyes. The movement between eyes, nose and mouth is crucial in Richards work, but here it is Philippa’s eyes that really reveal her expression.
Richards has had an acclaimed career as a founding member of the Nice Style group with Bruce McLean, exhibiting at Tate and the Henry Moore Institute, works in the Arts Council collection and being a highly influential tutor at the Slade School of Fine Art with pupils including Cecily Brown. Richards joins a long list of acclaimed artists who have taught at Slade School of Fine Art including Lucian Freud, Euan Uglow and Frank Auerbach and has similarly developed a distinctive style in which to explore the body and still lifes.
Richards creates works that are simultaneously truthful and subjective, depicting what is before him with physical accuracy while exposing their personality as he sees it, seeking to express something beyond physical appearance. His sitters are never posed, instead either subconsciously, or not, they decide how to be presented. These investigative works reveal the emotional connection between himself and his sitter. The movement between the eyes, nose and mouth is crucial to his work with the slightest nuances revealing something deeper about his sitter.
Only after creating studies in oil and terracotta does Richards begin his pastel drawings. Richards sees his terracottas as thoughts and a means of finding the person. In this terracotta Richards focuses on Philippa’s eyes. Although the nose is often the central point of his work, Richards believes that the reason for the head is the eyes. The movement between eyes, nose and mouth is crucial in Richards work, but here it is Philippa’s eyes that really reveal her expression.
Richards has had an acclaimed career as a founding member of the Nice Style group with Bruce McLean, exhibiting at Tate and the Henry Moore Institute, works in the Arts Council collection and being a highly influential tutor at the Slade School of Fine Art with pupils including Cecily Brown. Richards joins a long list of acclaimed artists who have taught at Slade School of Fine Art including Lucian Freud, Euan Uglow and Frank Auerbach and has similarly developed a distinctive style in which to explore the body and still lifes.
