Available Work
Gallery of earlier work (no longer available)
About the Artist
Richard Herman (born 1965) is a self taught artist who began experimenting with oil painting in his early teens. Having a strong interest in western art history, he initially learned his craft by studying the paintings of the northern European Renaissance. Seeking to recreate the crisp form and transparent atmosphere seen in panels by artists such as Jan Van Eyck and Rogier Van Der Wyden, he worked out the basic technique of that period, then applied it to his own themes. This technique involved laying successive layers of tinted glaze over high contrast monochrome under-painting. Compositions were based on detailed drawings made from a combination of direct observation and memory. After working with figure based allegorical scenes in this way for several years, the landscape elements in his paintings came forward as the main subject of his work.
In his late twenties Richard underwent a shift in perspective that brought into focus the dynamic uncertainty of the world around him. Feeling impatient with his medium, and wanting to depict this emerging perception, he dispensed with drawing and carefully arranged compositions. Using a spontaneous wet-on-wet approach that drew inspiration from the Chinese and Japanese traditions of painting and calligraphy, he explored a flowing environment of clouds, geology, and watercourses. His cloud series became a signature motif during this period.
Richard's work over the last decade brings together the lessons of both earlier periods into what has become his mature landscape style. He is now exploring the idea and history of the "Sublime Landscape", and is once again introducing figures and narrative into some paintings. More can be found on this ongoing development by following the link to his studio journal.
Richard lives in Toronto with his partner Jennifer and son William.
In his late twenties Richard underwent a shift in perspective that brought into focus the dynamic uncertainty of the world around him. Feeling impatient with his medium, and wanting to depict this emerging perception, he dispensed with drawing and carefully arranged compositions. Using a spontaneous wet-on-wet approach that drew inspiration from the Chinese and Japanese traditions of painting and calligraphy, he explored a flowing environment of clouds, geology, and watercourses. His cloud series became a signature motif during this period.
Richard's work over the last decade brings together the lessons of both earlier periods into what has become his mature landscape style. He is now exploring the idea and history of the "Sublime Landscape", and is once again introducing figures and narrative into some paintings. More can be found on this ongoing development by following the link to his studio journal.
Richard lives in Toronto with his partner Jennifer and son William.
Solo Exhibitions
2014- "Calm and Clear 2014" Art Interiors, Toronto
2011- "Where Prairie meets Mountain" Gibson Fine Art, Calgary, Alberta
2009 - "Sublime Landscape" The Agnes Bugera Gallery, Edmonton, Alberta
2007 - "Floating World" Parts Gallery Toronto Ont.
2007 - "The New Sublime", Art Interiors Toronto Ont.
2006 - "The Promised Land", Agnes Bugera Gallery, Edmonton Alberta
2005 - New works, Art Interiors, Toronto Ont.
2004 - Landscapes from Memory, Parts Gallery, Toronto Ont.
2002 - New Landscapes and Skyscapes, Art Interiors, Toronto Ont.
1996 - "Calm and Clear",80 Spadina, Toronto Ont.
Group Exhibitions
2012- Art gallery of Hamilton, Hamilton Ont.
2011- Art gallery of Hamilton, Hamilton Ont.
2008 - "Lions and Lambs" Parts Gallery, Toronto
2008 - "Beauty", The Weiss Gallery, Calgary Alberta
2007 - "Touching Reality", The Elliot Louis Gallery, Vancouver B.C.
2005 - "Three Visions of Land and Sky", Agnes Bugera Gallery, Edmonton Alberta
2003 - "Natural Tendencies", Holland & Holland, New York, NY
1997 - "Blue Space", 80 Spadina, Toronto Ont.
1996 - Metro Convention Center Visitor's Assoc. Queens Quay Terminal, Toronto Ont.
1988 - International Miniature Show Del Bello Gallery, Toronto Ont.
Collections
Design For Living Television
The Four Seasons Hotel,Toronto
The Windsor Arms Hotel and Residence,Toronto
The Tridel Corporation
Maple Leaf Foods
Gamma Dynacare Laboratories
Lafleur Brown
Womens College Hospital,Toronto
HG Television
Gluckstein Design Planning,Toronto
Kimberley Seldon Design Group, Toronto
Mike Niven Interior design
Media and Bibliography
Style at home 01,02,05,08
Canadian House and Home 99,01,02,03,05,06,07
The National Post 03
"The spirit in the sky", The Edmonton Journal May 05
"Creations to meet his audience half way" The Edmonton Journal Oct. 2006
"National Landscape" Avenue Magazine Oct.09 2009
2014- "Calm and Clear 2014" Art Interiors, Toronto
2011- "Where Prairie meets Mountain" Gibson Fine Art, Calgary, Alberta
2009 - "Sublime Landscape" The Agnes Bugera Gallery, Edmonton, Alberta
2007 - "Floating World" Parts Gallery Toronto Ont.
2007 - "The New Sublime", Art Interiors Toronto Ont.
2006 - "The Promised Land", Agnes Bugera Gallery, Edmonton Alberta
2005 - New works, Art Interiors, Toronto Ont.
2004 - Landscapes from Memory, Parts Gallery, Toronto Ont.
2002 - New Landscapes and Skyscapes, Art Interiors, Toronto Ont.
1996 - "Calm and Clear",80 Spadina, Toronto Ont.
Group Exhibitions
2012- Art gallery of Hamilton, Hamilton Ont.
2011- Art gallery of Hamilton, Hamilton Ont.
2008 - "Lions and Lambs" Parts Gallery, Toronto
2008 - "Beauty", The Weiss Gallery, Calgary Alberta
2007 - "Touching Reality", The Elliot Louis Gallery, Vancouver B.C.
2005 - "Three Visions of Land and Sky", Agnes Bugera Gallery, Edmonton Alberta
2003 - "Natural Tendencies", Holland & Holland, New York, NY
1997 - "Blue Space", 80 Spadina, Toronto Ont.
1996 - Metro Convention Center Visitor's Assoc. Queens Quay Terminal, Toronto Ont.
1988 - International Miniature Show Del Bello Gallery, Toronto Ont.
Collections
Design For Living Television
The Four Seasons Hotel,Toronto
The Windsor Arms Hotel and Residence,Toronto
The Tridel Corporation
Maple Leaf Foods
Gamma Dynacare Laboratories
Lafleur Brown
Womens College Hospital,Toronto
HG Television
Gluckstein Design Planning,Toronto
Kimberley Seldon Design Group, Toronto
Mike Niven Interior design
Media and Bibliography
Style at home 01,02,05,08
Canadian House and Home 99,01,02,03,05,06,07
The National Post 03
"The spirit in the sky", The Edmonton Journal May 05
"Creations to meet his audience half way" The Edmonton Journal Oct. 2006
"National Landscape" Avenue Magazine Oct.09 2009