Artist Spotlight - Richard Harpum
Biography
Award-winning artist, Richard Harpum, paints mainly with acrylics on canvas or board but also paints watercolour florals. He works in a realist style and pays meticulous attention to detail. Richard's primary areas of focus are landscapes, seascapes and cityscapes but he also paints still lifes, portraits and florals.
Charles Bridge, Prague in Winter; acrylic on canvas; 60 x 40cm
The effective use of light is a key ingredient to all of Richard’s works and he spends a great deal of time before starting a painting in selecting a composition that provides both drama and contrast. Born in Bromley, England, in 1951, Richard has had a passion for drawing and painting from a very young age. As a youngster, he was always drawing and became a prolific painter after he received an oil painting set for Christmas when he was 12.
Winter Woodland; acrylic on canvas; 40 x 30cm
He has a Master of Arts degree from Cambridge University. Richard has won numerous art competitions and awards, including Professional Artist of the Year, 2012 by the Society of All Artists (SAA). His work is widely published, notably in jigsaws, where dozens of his images have been used over the years.
The Treasury, Petra, Jordan; acrylic on canvas; 30 x 80cm
He is a strong advocate for using the golden ratio (Phi - 1:1.618) in his paintings. You may note that the position of the sun or some other key feature or length often fits this ratio. In some of his works there are several used. Richard believes that this gives his paintings a better balance than using the more traditional "rule of thirds".
Positano Vista, Amalfi Coast, Italy; acrylic on canvas; 51 x 40cm
During his life Richard has lived in many parts of England and currently lives in South Yorkshire . He has also travelled extensively for both pleasure and business and has lived abroad in Africa, the USA, Australia and Germany for a total of 20 years. This has given him a very broad perspective of the world, as well as providing him with wonderful sources of inspiration for his paintings.
La Alhambra, Granada, Spain; acrylic on canvas; 100 x 40cm
Artist Statement
Painting is one of my most satisfying pastimes. Although I drew and painted in oils as a youngster, a career in the British Army, followed by many years as a senior business executive, meant that painting was only a sporadic activity and I did not start pursuing my passion again in earnest until I was in my 50s.
Mont Saint-Michel Soir; acrylic on canvas; 60 x 60cm
I am so glad that I did. Since a friend recommended that I try acrylics, I have never looked back; I am a very impatient person, so the fast drying time really suits me. Acrylics also give me options that are not necessarily available in other mediums.
Meeting Street Inn, Charleston, USA; acrylic on canvas; 51 x 40cm
I am an engineer by training and although I love the Impressionists, I have a great deal of difficulty being “loose” in my own paintings. Having tried and failed, I decided to take the route of being a realist artist. I have become a fanatic for detail. However, I am not interested in achieving photorealism – plus I don’t have the patience for it!
La Lampareria, Albacin, Granada, Spain; acrylic on canvas; 42 x 59cm
My time-consuming technique pretty much prohibits painting en plein air, so I use photographs and sketches for reference in my studio. Consequently, I take a camera everywhere. Although this drives my wife nuts, it means that I’m never short of things to paint.
Fishing Boat Repairs, Essaouira, Morocco; acrylic on canvas; 51 x 40cm
In general, I try to avoid painting direct copies of my photos. Indeed, I usually make lots of changes, often combining a variety of references to achieve a broader or a more interesting view. First, I will often adjust the perspective, so as to create focal points on one or more “Golden Ratio” (see “tactics” below).
Cádiz Garden, Spain; acrylic on canvas; 50 x 40cm
I may also change the lighting, moving shadows and illuminated areas to maximise impact. I nearly always change the sky, referring to my large library of photos. And I often add features, such as flowers, to create contrast and interest.
Fun on the River Cam, Cambridge; acrylic on canvas; 76 x 51cm
I have deliberately avoided the temptation to focus on a common theme. I am always exploring what is possible, so paint what I enjoy and anything that I think is interesting, be it a landscape/seascape, still life, botanical, animal or portrait/figure. I want to avoid being “type cast” as having a particular style or subject matter.
Sabi Sands Siesta, South Africa; acrylic on canvas; 51 x 40cm
I mainly use ARA, Atelier Interactive and Daler-Rowney acrylics. The latter’s Prussian blue still works best for me, as does their Titanium buff, which I seem to use more of than any other colour. ARA paints are my favourites; they are smooth and easy to apply, and the nozzles on their containers allow me to extrude the desired amount of paint, resulting in minimal waste. I also use Liquitex acrylic inks both for my floral paintings and also for painting thin lines on my other paintings.
Winter Lights, Buckingham Palace, London; acrylic on canvas; 59 x 42cm
Although I used to paint on an easel, when I started suffering from acute shoulder pain, I invested in a drafting table. Not only did this cure the shoulder pain but it also dramatically improved the accuracy of my painting.
Winter Morning, Big Ben, Elizabeth Tower, London; acrylic on canvas; 30 x 4cm
As an artist, I am self-taught but am constantly learning, not only by painting (every painting is an education) but by exhaustive reading and looking in detail at how other artists paint. I love attending art shows, as I not only learn and get ideas from other artists but also enjoy helping them by passing on my experiences.
www.richardharpum.com
https://visit.virtualartgallery.com/harpumart
https://www.facebook.com/RichardHarpum
https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardharpum
https://uk.pinterest.com/rharpum/pins
Morning Glory – The Grand Canyon from South Kaibab Trail; acrylic on canvas; 60 x 40cm
