I have been a commercial and fine artist for 45 years. Over that time I have lived many places, mostly in California and Maui. During that time I have done over 100 paintings, murals and artsy signs that I have lost track of and have no photo of them either.
I have decided to write a book about my art career and the difficulties an artist faces when they don't come from a wealthy family and have an unlimited budget. While everyone seems to think I should be wealthy because of my artistic abilities they always fail to realize the high cost of doing art. As an example, to do an art show all the art needs to be matted and/or framed. The more prestigious the gallery the more expensive the matting and frames need to be. On Maui I could do enough paintings for a show at a cost of a few hundred dollars. But to display those painting in a gallery in Lahaina would require a $1500 frame and matting job for each painting to be on par with the rest of the art in the gallery. This is $18k out of pocket for a show of 12 paintings effectively pricing me out of the market although my art was comparable to the other artists. the same applies in all the major cities of the world. Basically if an artist doesn't have money to start with they don't get too far regardless of their talent. I am finding this true for writing too. Without a substantial budget to promote your work, you don't get to far.
So over the last 45 years I have painted some very nice art on commission, the only avenue open to me.
Most of these painting were done for private parties but some, most notably my murals and signage were for businesses.
What I am trying to do now, since I lost my portfolios of most of my work over the years, is to use the internet to call for previous clients and businesses who have photos of my work to contact me so I can assemble a master portfolio to include in my new book.
I expect this project to take a few years to complete although I have recently managed to track a few pieces using google, there are still dozens that I need to find, if possible.
So this is a call for those people who I have sold are to in the past 40 or so years to help me create a compilation of my work for posterity. If you live in California or Maui and have any paintings, mural or signage signed either Beauchamp or Richter, two professional names I've used as an artist please contact me.
Here's a photo of a mural in a house on Maui I stumbled upon while looking at homes for sale:
I painted two portraits for Emil White at the Henry Miller Museum One of Henry and one of Emil. They seem to have disappeared from the museum. If anyone has any pictures of them I would love to hear from you.
I have decided to write a book about my art career and the difficulties an artist faces when they don't come from a wealthy family and have an unlimited budget. While everyone seems to think I should be wealthy because of my artistic abilities they always fail to realize the high cost of doing art. As an example, to do an art show all the art needs to be matted and/or framed. The more prestigious the gallery the more expensive the matting and frames need to be. On Maui I could do enough paintings for a show at a cost of a few hundred dollars. But to display those painting in a gallery in Lahaina would require a $1500 frame and matting job for each painting to be on par with the rest of the art in the gallery. This is $18k out of pocket for a show of 12 paintings effectively pricing me out of the market although my art was comparable to the other artists. the same applies in all the major cities of the world. Basically if an artist doesn't have money to start with they don't get too far regardless of their talent. I am finding this true for writing too. Without a substantial budget to promote your work, you don't get to far.
So over the last 45 years I have painted some very nice art on commission, the only avenue open to me.
Most of these painting were done for private parties but some, most notably my murals and signage were for businesses.
What I am trying to do now, since I lost my portfolios of most of my work over the years, is to use the internet to call for previous clients and businesses who have photos of my work to contact me so I can assemble a master portfolio to include in my new book.
I expect this project to take a few years to complete although I have recently managed to track a few pieces using google, there are still dozens that I need to find, if possible.
So this is a call for those people who I have sold are to in the past 40 or so years to help me create a compilation of my work for posterity. If you live in California or Maui and have any paintings, mural or signage signed either Beauchamp or Richter, two professional names I've used as an artist please contact me.
Here's a photo of a mural in a house on Maui I stumbled upon while looking at homes for sale:
I painted two portraits for Emil White at the Henry Miller Museum One of Henry and one of Emil. They seem to have disappeared from the museum. If anyone has any pictures of them I would love to hear from you.
I also painted a huge mural in Eureka Ca. That I have no photo of. It was painted in 1989 and has since been altered. I am trying to find anyone who has a photo of the mural of Venice I painted in Sergio's Italian Restaurant that used to be on 2nd st.
Hopefully I will get some response and be able to gather photos of my life's work.
great stuff- Have a good day
ReplyDeleteThanks Janice hope your doing well. :)
DeleteThat last painting is famous and it certainly isn't yours.
ReplyDeleteDo you have proof that it is yours? I don't take people by their word. This painting is one of the best known paintings of Henry Miller, being a big Henry Miller fan, and an artist myself. So, unless you can give solid proof that that it is indeed your painting, I'm unconvinced.
DeleteI need not convince you of anything think what you like. I clearly know what I've painted and what I haven't and your opinion in the matter don't mean a thing. Actually I never realized that the painting was famous until you pointed it out, thanks.
DeleteNo, in point of fact, convincing people is exactly what you need to do. You need to provide proof rather than just to say it's yours.
DeleteThat's exactly what I'm doing but certainly not to anonymous trolls online that is none of their business.
DeleteThen where is your proof?
DeleteThat's not your concern is it?
DeleteBeautiful work Rick. You are rather talented.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteI got a call from the Miller Memorial Library yesterday and it would seem they attribute it to an an artist named Catherine Foster. That is incorrect. From other info they told me about the artist it would seem they were talking about Katherine Foster Clarke. So their info is not correct in any event. The Artist Catherine Foster works mostly is painted metal wall sculptures and Katherine Foster Clarke was a landscape artist. Nether have any portraiture.
ReplyDeleteI found out a bit more. It seems that Clarke painted in oils and I paint in acrylics. So if the Miller painting is in acrylics then it's mine.
ReplyDeleteSo you and another artist painted the same picture but in different kinds of paint. That is certainly possible. But another artist, a third artist, stole your work. So at this point you are investigating if this specific piece is yours that was stolen, or does it belong to the first artist. If it belongs to the first artist, your piece is still out there, and if this is your stolen art, does the first artist know about any of this?
ReplyDeleteI made my portraits with acrylics, the credited artist used oils and only painted landscapes. I never said anything was stolen. There is no third artist just another Catherine Foster who wasn't actually involved.. The woman credited with the work died in 1990 and the family donated the painting to the Miller Library in 1992. So it seems it was unaccounted for for 12 years. No-one seems to even remember the painting of White so he either gave it away or destroyed it because, even at 79, the thought it made him look too old and didn't like it although everyone who saw it said I had captured him dead on.
ReplyDeleteWhen you said another artist covered up your name with their name on the painting I took that to mean it was stolen from you. But that is not what you meant. The picture was given to a museum but it was unaccounted for 12 years, because it is your work, right? He was 79 and thought the picture made him look old? But at one time White had the painting and gave it away or destroyed it. So does the picture still exist or are you talking about owning the picture of the picture that no longer exist?
ReplyDeleteI made two paintings for Emil White, one of Henry Miller and one of him. No-one seems to know what happened to the White painting. The Miller painting is in the Miller Library with someone else's name on it. Or it's a very close copy of my painting.
ReplyDeleteMaybe it is a mystery that will remain a mystery. Good luck anyway.
ReplyDeleteThanks, I hope to get the problem resolved one way or another.
ReplyDelete