Richard A. Stergulz
Artist Biography

Richard is an Illinois native who by the age of eight knew he wanted to be an artist. He graduated from the American Academy of Art in Chicago in 1983 which began his successful commercial art career. After 12 years of doing commercial art, Richard felt it was time to fine tune his fine art style.

Richard moved to California in 1995 and started painting for himself in a realistic style with a touch of Russian impressionism. "I admire the Russian Impressionists, especially Nickolai Fechin, for their intense brush strokes that exude passion into their paintings. I also admire Norman Rockwell for his amazing drawing ability and the volume of work he produced in his lifetime."

Lastly, Richard admires John Singer Sargent for his portrait work. “His portraits give a sense of reality but still have a painterly style which I hope to aspire to.”

Richard works in oils on masonite board. His work is mostly figurative and he has started plein air painting as much as possible. He also teaches class three times a week as well as doing demos for most of the Art Associations in San Diego and Riverside counties.

Richard's work hangs in galleries in Santa Monica, Idyllwild and Fallbrook, California and Cody, Wyoming. His paintings have won numerous awards from Best of Show to People's Choice.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS 2002/2008

Accepted-Richeson Portrait/Figure Competition, May 2008
1st Place Oils-Grand National Rodeo Art Show, April 2008
Meritus Entry, Richeson 75 Portrait Competition, June 2007
Rising Star Art-Talk Magazine, May 2007
Juried National Show, Oil Painters of America, May 2007
Best of Show, Fallbrook Art Assoc Juried Show, Nov. 2006
1st Place Oils, Fallbrook Art Assoc Juried Show, Nov. 2006
Visitors’ Choice, COAL Juried Show, August 2006
Honorable Mention, COAL Juried Show, August 2006
Judge Oils-Del Mar Art Fair, San Diego, CA June 2006
First Place Oils, Member Show, Idyllwild, CA April 2006
Second Place, Plein Air Festival, Idyllwild, CA Sept 2005
Honorable Mention, Art Alliance of Idyllwild, July 2005
Featured Artist, Two Babes Gallery, Idyllwild, CA, June 2005
Second Place-Drawing, Fallbrook Juried Show, November 2004
2004 Western Regional Juried Exhibition, OPA, Oct 2004
Artists' Choice, Plein Air Festival, Idyllwild, CA Sept 2004
Juror Award of Merit, Plein Air Festival, Idyllwild, CA Sept 2004
Artists Choice, Art Alliance of Idyllwild Reception, CA July 2004
First Place-Oils San Dieguito Miniature Show, CA July 2004
Juried Non-Members Show, Salmagundi Club, NY, June 2004
Featured Artist, Pinnell Gallery, Fallbrook, CA, April 2004
Second Place-Oils, Fallbrook Art Assoc, CA, April 2004
Juried Members' Show, Idyllwild, CA October 2003
Juror's Award Plein Air Festival, Idyllwild, CA September 2003
People's Choice Members Show, Idyllwild, CA, July 2003
Honorable Mention Members' Show, Idyllwild, CA July 2003
Best of Show Jubilee National Christian Art Show, 2002

WORKSHOPS/CLASSES
Portrait Master Class, Everett Raymond Kinstler, June 2007
Portrait Class, Watts Atelier, Jeffrey Watts, 2004

MEMBERSHIPS
Oil Painters of America, Associate Member
Portrait Society of America
Grand National Artist Society-Platinum Member
Art Alliance of Idyllwild
Fallbrook Art Association

"Do what you love, only then will you love what you do."