See original oil paintings and acadia seascapes when you visit acadia.
Hello, please allow me to tell you a bit about myself. My name is John Richards, Jr. but most call me by my nickname, "Skeets." I was born in Adams, MA, on February 3, 1947 and attended public schools there, graduating from the former Adams Memorial High School in 1965. I received a B.A. in Physics and an M.A. in Education from North Adams State College, now named the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts.
I have been married to Barbara Richards since 1969 and have a daughter named Carolyn. My wife and I resided in Williamstown, Ma. for 47 years and moved to Lamoine, ME in January of 2019. I was a Science Teacher at the Berkshire Country Day School in Lenox, MA. for one year and a Physics Teacher at Drury High School in North Adams, MA. for 34 years. I officially retired from teaching on June 30, 2004.
This web site originated because many people have given me complimentary comments about my paintings; I thought I would share them with the rest of the world. My interest in painting was perked by Bill Alexander, a television how-to painter who made painting in oils look so easy. At that point, in the early 1980's, I decided to give it a try, even though I felt that I had no artistic talent. That began this artistic quest and I am so happy to be embarking upon it; painting gives me great pleasure and calm, especially painting acadia seascapes.
I have studied with Andrew Orr, a wonderful artist and teacher from northern Vermont, with Leah Lopez, one of the finest Still Life painters in the country, and with Christopher Pierce, master floral still life artist.
Some of these original oil paintings are oil on canvas but most are painted on a linen mounted panel. I would be happy to look at any photos of favorite scenes you have should you desire an oil painting of that scene; contact me and we'll see what we can do! This website will be an on-going process that I'd like to be alive and vibrant, so please bear with me. Below are several photos. The first is me and Andrew Orr at the Bryan Memorial Gallery in Jeffersonville, VT, the second, me and Christopher Pierce in his studio in Shushan, NY, and the third, I'm standing with Karen Winslow, a talented artist from Jeffersonville, VT. Enjoy...