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Arlington
Hotel - Richard
Stephens
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Current Exhibition
July
2008
Richard
Stephens is a native of Hot Springs,
Arkansas, and graduated from the
University of Central Arkansas in 1969
with a degree in art.
After serving in the Army as an
illustrator, he began his commercial art
career in 1971 with a design studio in
Little Rock. There, he began forming a
network of other artists, vendors and
suppliers that allowed him to open his own
studio in 1974 and has been freelancing
out of Hot Springs since that time. After
discovering the medium in college he
always knew watercolor was his real
"calling". Occasionally it would emerge,
but he didn't start painting consistently
again until 1992.
"I have always felt the years of designing
and doing layouts with transparent markers
was basically watercolor painting. The
process and technique are very much the
same. The best layouts have that loose,
spontaneous watercolor feel to them. Now I
do all my commercial design work on the
computer. I enjoy it but I'm glad I did it
the old way for all those years."
Stephens' work shows a wide range of
subjects and techniques. "I feel my style
is evolving to a more impressionistic
approach to traditional watercolor
subjects such as landscapes, architecture
and figures."
During the past few years Stephens has
enjoyed success by winning awards in
numerous watercolor shows and competitions
around the country. He has had several
one-man exhibitions, participated in many
group shows, and has studied under such
well known watercolorists as Gary Myers,
Tony Couch, Ken Hosmer, Mel Stabin and
Alvaro Castagnet.
Stephens was recently named as one of ten
"Artist to Watch" by Watercolor Magic
magazine (December 2005 edition). Four of
his paintings were featured in 200 Great
Painting Ideas for Artists, by Carol
Katchen, published by North Light
Books.
Stephens' work is owned by individuals and
corporations around the country. He is a
member of the Arkansas League of Artists,
the Mississippi Art Colony, and is a
signature member of Mid-Southern
Watercolorists, Southern Watercolor
Society and Missouri Watercolor
Society.
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