Today we’d like to introduce you to Richard Poe.
Hi Richard, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I’m a visual artist. Living on three and a half acres of mostly untouched land in the hills west of downtown Austin, I often come across interesting and sometimes beautiful pieces of nature. Initially, the idea was to try to capture the beauty of these objects in a photograph. Choosing a black-and-white format for its clarity and detail, I introduced my hand to better connect with the viewer. I began arranging what I found into designs, like drawing with natural objects. Then I started cutting up the photos and assembling them in combinations reminiscent of abstract painting. Once a piece is complete, I scan the assemblage, edit and refine the image and then print it in various sizes. In my opinion, photo assemblages are a modern form of printmaking.
Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned? Looking back, has it been easy or smooth in retrospect?
An artist and friend once told me that no matter what happens, keep working—sound advice. Like many artists, I’ve had plenty of rejections. Unwelcome news can be disappointing but also motivating. So, I kept working, trying new ideas, and letting the artwork evolve. The process reminds me of following a trail through the woods. I’m never entirely sure where I’m headed, but I have a clue, so I keep on as long as the path interests me.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
I have been making what I call photo assemblages for several years. This artwork is about a particular way of viewing the natural world; that is, through a series of images that have their beginnings in a small slice of the Texas Hill Country, the place I know as Thursday Mountain. Nature is on vivid display there if you bother to look. I did. Soon, I began collecting some more unusual objects I encountered: bird’s eggs, hummingbird nests, and deer antlers. As the collection grew, I decided to preserve these fragile pieces of nature in photographs, individually and then in arrangements that evolved into something akin to abstract painting. After collecting and photographing these natural objects, I cut up the photos and reassemble them in various combinations of form and color a sort of cross between abstract painting and figurative photography – then I scan the resulting assemblage, re-edit the image, and print in a variety of sizes. Larger assemblages are stand-alone originals and are not printed. One of the assemblages, “Treelalia (Sapling Dream),” was recently shortlisted (a finalist) in the 2023 Sony World Photography Awards Open/Creative category. The photo assemblage will be included in a book and exhibited online during the coming year.
Please talk to us about happiness and what makes you happy.
I enjoy coming up with an idea and seeing it through to completion. That I’ve been able to combine the artwork with a love of the natural world is a bonus.
Pricing:
- Pricing varies. The assemblages are available through Art for the People Gallery in Austin.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://sites.google.com/view/richard-poe-visual-artist/home
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aruspius52/
Image Credits
Images by R. Poe
