>
Artist Statement: Ray Bliss Rich
I have been painting in the sumi-e style since 1980, and began doing gyotaku prints in 1982. Because I enjoy
being intimately involved with the entire process, I also cut my own mats and make my own frames.
I am lucky to have an understanding wife who encourages me to struggle as a full time artist. I also get encouragement
from other artists in the local associations I belong to; including being voted the Artist-of-the-Year by the Manchester
(NH) Artists' Association in June 1992. I have also garnered numerous awards in the few judged shows I do each
year. Last year ('98) I won two awards.
People often remark on my unusual treatment of subject matter: from delicate depictions of nature, to crinkled
paper paintings that border between representational and abstract. Others say that my degrees in sociology and
counseling are evident in the feeling of peacefulness that pervades my work.
When I decided to pursue my art full time in 1993; it was obvious that I needed to broaden my market. The
choice seemed to be between doing more shows further from home, or hand crafting new supports for my work.
So... in addition to offering matted/framed paintings; I decided to do hand paint & printed paper jewelry,
which is now available in fine craft & museum shops from Maine to Minnesota. I also hand craft easel prints,
framing my images with unryu and chiri papers with a built in easel back. I have also hand crafted and hand painted
lampshades, which are only available in a few locations, since they are too labor intensive to distribute widely.
Most people are surprised to learn that I not only hand paint the shades, but that I completely hand craft them
as well, starting from a flat sheet of paper. Although the impressive beauty and quality of my lampshades seems
to jury me into the finest shows, it is the jewelry and framed work that have provided the most sales!
My jewelry, easel prints, and lampshades have taken me beyond the art show to the fine craft gallery and museum
shop.
©1996 R.B.Rich all photographs these pages.
E-mail = [email protected]
My snail mail is: