
Painting, Drawings and Sculpture by Hollis Richardson
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American Western Paintings & Drawings
INFLUENCES ON HOLLIS RICHARDSON’S WESTERN PAINTINGS AND DRAWINGS
Much later, (1977-1987), the artist moved to rural Idaho where he was in daily contact with ranchers and loggers, who patronized his small general store. He also taught art and social studies, grades one through twelve, in Riggins, ID, where their children and grandchildren educated Richardson on the local culture. The rodeo was the main event of the summer in the Salmon River canyon community of Riggins, ID and everyone in the community went and some participated. The Nez Perce Reservation at Lewiston, ID was a short drive and he enjoyed many of their small powwows, which drew participants from other tribes. The people of Riggins and the Nez Perce were frequent subjects of his American western paintings and drawing.
During summers, and after selling his small grocery business, Hollis worked full time on his artwork, creating realistic drawings and paintings in a traditional and an impressionistic style. After moving to Denver, the annual multinational powwow was a special treat, and he continued to make Native Americans the subject of his oil paintings. He loved the color and decorative elements of their native dress, and the movement of their dances. The sound of the beat of their drums gave rhythm to his paintings and a longing to work full time on his artwork.
Long weekends in Colorado were punctuated by visits to Taos and Santa Fe, where he trekked through many art galleries and visited the pueblos nearby, where natives continue to live. The Taos artists, including Nicoli Fechin, an important Russian impressionist, became an important influence on his work during a period of several years. He was also introduced to the work of Sergei Bongart, a Russian impressionist living in Los Angeles and William Reese, a student of Bongart’s living in the northwest. The master works of these accomplished artists spurred him on to achieve similar skills in his own paintings and drawings.