Interview

Nov 21

Richard Barrett

Richard Barrett is an internationally recognized artist with clients and patrons in Australia, Belgium, Germany, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Sweden, USA, and the UK. He trained as an transportation engineer, obtaining a First-class honours degree from Manchester University. After a successful career in engineering, working at the World Bank, he wrote 14 books on values, culture, leadership, spirituality, and psychology. He is recognised as a global thought leader in the field of leadership and values in business and society. His most popular book is “What My Soul Told Me.”
‍In May 2022, he felt the impulse to put down his pen and pick up his paint brushes. He paints exclusively in oils. His style of painting tends to vary according to the subject. Since that time, he has completed more than 150 paintings. Richard has two studios, one in Italy, not far from Florence, and one in London, near Swiss Cottage.

Portrait of Misa Lukic

What is your background and how did you start your journey in the art world?

“I was born in Kingston upon Hull shortly after the second World War. Seventy-eight years later, I discovered I had an talent for oil painting. I knew immediately I wanted to paint portraits, and in particular, portraits that express people's emotions. My tag line is ‘Paintings that bring joy to the soul.’”

What inspires you?

“I am inspired by the impressionists, their struggles and their courage in pursuing their gifts and talents. Many of them died poor but they left a unique legacy that changed the art world for ever.”

What themes do you pursue? Is there an underlying message in your work?

“My portraits attempt to capture the essence of the person: what lies beyond the masks we wear in trying to cope with everyday life. I do paintings that enliven people's souls. I gladly accept commissions.”

“Faces are the gardens of our emotions, and our eyes are the portals to our souls.”

How would you describe your work?

“My work centres on people and emotions. I believe as an artist, there is much to learn from the great masters. My reproductions are not exact copies: they are the source of my learning and the springboard for my experiments in portraiture.”

Which artists influence you most?

“I am very influenced by the modern masters including Renoir, Sargent, Manet and Modigliani.”

What is your creative process like?

“I carry my camera with me everywhere I go and try to capture unusually expressive faces. I begin with a sketch, I then block in and gradually proceed to the finish with highlights.”

What is an artist’s role in society and how do you see that evolving?

“I believe the artist has an important role to play in society by mirroring back how people dealing with their inner world - expressing what is going on in their mind and the impact of their emotions and feelings on their faces and body postures.”