Nicklos Richards is an American folk artist originally from Lexington, Michigan, a small fishing village on the rocky shores of Lake Huron. He learned resourcefulness and creativity from his mother, the Queen of all garage sales.
Nicklos creates folk art that shines a light on vintage music and the many influences of the past. He works with acrylic paint, vintage ephemera and salvaged materials. For the greater part of his artistic career, he has been considered a self-taught artist.
After relocating to Florida, Nicklos completed the Graphic Design program at the Art Institute of Jacksonville. There he received the Presidents List Award and was awarded the 2011 Most Valuable Portfolio. He soon gained esteemed recognition from the Jacksonville community by using a group of renowned Blues BBQ restaurants as vehicles for showcasing his American roots music influenced art.
Nicklos’ art transformed as the BBQ restaurants blossomed into acclaimed dining & entertainment destinations. He has the distinct ability to create colorful, soulful homages by giving onlookers a glimpse into a culturally rich era. Currently, the restaurants collectively house 300 of his original paintings. In addition to producing commercial pieces, Nicklos also creates commissioned work for private clients.
Nicklos now resides in Seattle, Washington with his wife Amy and their pup Juniper.
TELLING A STORY THROUGH LAYERS OF PAINT AND PAPER
Hello, my name is Nicklos Richards and my mission is to bring Twentieth Century American music and historical events back to life by joining bright folk art colors, vintage ephemera and re-purposed materials. I'm a folk artist, but it’s so much more than that. I take otherwise meaningless materials and put them together to make something beautiful and meaningful.
Inspiration can come from many things but personally I’m inspired by history and music. My process has multiple layers and I treat each painting as if it’s a research project.
The beginning stage of every painting starts with immersing myself in a specific time period. Searching historical data, listening to music from the period, collecting photos from the era and visits to the city library are key to my artistic process. There’s a tipping point where a story begins to emerge and ultimately an image starts to take on a new life.
My next step is to pull the past into the current day using materials from the past such as salvaged goods, wood scraps, vintage ephemera, vintage sewing patterns, maps, and many other items originally intended to be thrown away. These items make up the foundation of my paintings and add texture.
Finally, I create a bridge into the current day with modern materials such as spray paint, acrylic markers, and vibrant acrylic paints. I imagine my paintings linking the past and the present.
I believe everyone and everything has a story to tell. I hope you enjoy my interpretation.
Thanks for visiting!
Nicklos