One art investment broker remarked that “Richard Hawk has achieved something truly novel and his artwork will stand the test of time as being the first person to develop this technique, style and approach to a blank surface. There are followers and there are leaders, and Richard Hawk falls unquestionably into the latter.”
The New York City-born artist enjoyed a demanding career as a communications and advertising designer for fortune 500 companies and universities before moving to full time fine art in the early 2000’s. He has had numerous shows on both coasts including his home studio base in San Diego, California. His highly celebrated works of oil on copper now can be found in many collections around the world.
At first, experiments with the use of copper as a substrate for paintings were a diversion. However, success after success with his signtature marriage of copper and paint led to his devotion to the metal as an intrinsic part of his work. Reason, says Hawk: It is a dynamic, active surface. “The stuff glows,” he says, “and the painting morphs as light changes during the day. Just walking past it reveals new layers and voices all the time.”
Hawk welcomes co-creation with the forces of nature into his artworks by utilizing solid copper substrates and oxidation (patina) processes. Masterful brushwork in the tradition of oil painting launches these works into new territory.
Interwoven throughout his work are themes are humanity, nature and spirit.
The figurative works question the future with echoes of the past. Heroines and heroes hint at things to come or dreams remembered. In the meditative abstract pieces, geometric shapes confer order upon labyrinths of detail.
A Richard Hawk painting is a soul-soothing, brain-teasing invitation to explore and reflect. “The infinite and the ephemeral coexist everywhere,” says the artist, “here too in these paintings.”
See Instagram @richardhawkart
