“Although plein air painting (painting outdoors) is popular among many landscape artists, I prefer to work in the studio. I enjoy hiking, exploring or just observing nature over sitting at an easel outdoors. I seldom interpret a scene literally; instead, I prefer to orchestrate strong compositions using elements from my photographs for reference. I seek to capture the feeling or essence of a scene, not to duplicate exactly what I see. The majority of landscape and seascape artists paint in oils, but I prefer acrylics. I’ve spent more than twenty-five years learning to master this water-based medium. The acrylic paint is applied in successions of thin layers, almost like sketching with a brush. This method affords me more flexibility than slow drying mediums allow. I continuously refine and edit as I work through a painting, altering the shape of an ocean wave here or a cloud there, moving a rock, or even a mountain! This technique allows me superb control over color, value (light and dark), texture, and composition. My paintings are full of rich detail and I seek to convey the intricate textures and subtle nuances that abound in nature. I find beauty in these small details and bringing them to life with strokes of a brush is a joyful experience. In the end, I work toward honing every element of my paintings to near perfection”. - Robert A. Richert