Today we’d like to introduce you to Galina Richardson.
Galina, we’d love to hear your story and how you got to where you are today both personally and as an artist.
I was born in Volgograd, Russia and have been drawing and painting ever since I was a young girl. Growing up, I was also interested in languages and I ultimately sought a formal education in the field of linguistics. While working as a technical translator in Surgut, Western Siberia, I met my American husband. I soon joined him in Ventura, California and have called this coastal city my home for more than twenty-five years.
I studied graphic design at UCSB and for many years worked as a graphic designer, creating logos, advertisements, posters and brochures. I went on to work for the FBI in Los Angeles as a language analyst, but my passion for art remained. As a mostly self-taught artist, I love the freedom, spontaneity and delicate nature of the watercolor medium. Capturing people in all their uniqueness has been the main driving force behind my artwork and my two daughters often provide inspiration for my paintings.
I frequently exhibit at the Buenaventura and Thousand Oaks Art Associations, where my artwork has received recognition from the peers and the public. I paint plein air, enjoy life figure drawing, attend classes and workshops taught by renowned local and international artists, including Keiko Tanabe, Nick Runge, Cuong Nguyen, Gerald Brummer, Paul Jackson, Jeannie Vodden, and Judy Koenig.
I’m also an avid runner and have recently reached my goal of completing 50 marathons, after finishing the Los Angeles Marathon in March 2018.
We’d love to hear more about your art. What do you do and why and what do you hope others will take away from your work?
I’m a watercolorist and mixed media artist. I love painting people, animals, still life and plein air painting around the city and its beaches. But nothing makes me more excited than working on a portrait. There’s just something very intimate about studying someone’s exterior features and trying to capture his/her spirit, mood, and individuality.
I paint and draw/sketch from life as much as I can, but very often use a photograph as a reference for my portraits.
I hope that my artwork speaks for itself and reflects my passion for capturing people and animals in all their uniqueness.
Have things improved for artists? What should cities do to empower artists?
I think that artists today have so many fantastic opportunities to follow their passion for art. There are many venues that artists can follow, from getting a formal education in any form of medium, to attending classes and workshops on their own. When it comes to making a living by creating art, I think art still very undervalued.
Social media certainly makes it easier to showcase your artwork and potentially reach a global audience. I believe this is how your publication came across my Instagram account and took an interest in my watercolor portraits.
It would be great to see more art venues in our city, including festivals, exhibitions, maybe more collaboration between visual and performing artists.
Do you have any events or exhibitions coming up? Where would one go to see more of your work? How can people support you and your artwork?
I exhibit at the Buenaventura and Thousand Oaks Art Associations and recently have been invited to take part in the upcoming art show in the Kavli Theatre Gallery at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza. The show, titled, simply “SHE” will be focused on depictions of women and variations on femininity and will run May, 15 – August 13, 2018. Please come, check it out and help us celebrate women in our life!
You can also see my artwork on my website http://www.galina-richardson.com or
Instagram http://www.galina-richardson.com, or
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/GalinaRichardsonArtist
If people would like to support my art, they can buy my original paintings or contact me for a commissioned portrait. I paint from life and photographs.
Contact Info:
- Address: Ventura, California
- Website: http://www.galina-richardson.com
- Phone: 805.216.6548
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/galinarichardson/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GalinaRichardsonArtist
Getting in touch: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
