Richard’s mother is a Holocaust survivor from Czechoslovakia who loved the arts. His father loved the outdoors and nature. Together, their passion had a profound impact on him. Richard was born in the Bronx, New York. He credits his family with introducing him to the arts early on. They regularly visited art museums and galleries, which led him to pursue a career in the arts. He developed an interest in acting during high school, influenced by his uncle, Carl Reiner. This eventually led him to acting and later to becoming a talent agent for 25 years.

Then, a strange twist of fate drew Richard back to painting. His teenage daughter decided she wasn’t interested in attending the art classes he had purchased for her, so he took over her prepaid classes. He never looked back. Today, as an outdoors enthusiast and adventurer, Richard is driven to explore nature. He seeks to capture the serenity and power of the environment, even finding beauty in a storm.

The impression it leaves always inspires and motivates him to paint. “I try to invite the viewer to be part of the painting and let them have their experience and participate in finishing the narrative.” Richard has studied at numerous prestigious schools. Some of his influences include John Singer Sargent, Richard Schmid, William Turner, Diebenkorn, and the Bay Figurative Artists. With Hollywood in his blood, it’s no surprise that Richard’s art has even appeared on the small screen, notably on the last seven seasons of the hit CBS show, The Mentalist.