Chris Richter

My work explores landscape inspired themes of color, light and form, and ventures deep into my process of abstract painting. My work is centered on an abstract interpretation of landscape: ocean, rocks, trees, leaves and bark. In nature I observe the color relationships between warm and cool, light and dark, and in the context of each individual color’s absorption and reflection qualities. These relationships and contrasts coexist and bring life to the paintings. Light gives life to darkness, and as light grows, colors intensify and depths are enhanced and seen. When the light fades, colors shift to darkness. Many of the pieces end up predominantly light or dark, with exquisite details of contrasting color breaking through the surface. These details are revealed through my process of layering paint then reductively sanding back into the painting to an inherently smooth surface.

I began working as a full-time artist after a formidable career in advertising and graphic design. As an established naturalist painter, I relocated to Santa Fe for a decade, where my work transformed into abstractions of nature. My biography and work have been featured in such noted publications as American Art Collector. My work has been featured in numerous exhibitions across the country, including Albuquerque Museum, Harwood Museum of Art in Taos, and Laguna Art Museum.

I was born in Cameron, Texas and live and work in Laguna Beach.

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