We had the good fortune of connecting with Richard Hart and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Richard, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
I like the personal aspect of doing custom art for people. Nobody needs art so it becomes an emotional part of what they want. There aren’t many careers or jobs that provoke the type of reaction revealing a finished piece does. It ranges from extreme joy to crying and I derive gratification from being able to make this happen.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My Mom noticed my artistic abilities when I was very young and enrolled me into an art institute for adults. I became the only child to ever attend. The talent was there but not the passion. I wanted to be outside playing sports with the other kids. I did eventually graduate college with an art degree but never attempted to use it as a means of income. Fast forward to decades later in 2021. I worked in sales for a company that made custom painted motorcycle helmets. The culture was very art centric and inspired me to dust off the pencils and start drawing again.
The first drawings were industry related (motorcycles) and I posted in related groups on social media. To my surprise they became immediately popular with people wanting to buy originals and prints. I went from a few hundred friends on Instagram to over 40,000. It was crazy and unexpected. The trajectory was so straight up that by Jan 2024 I quit my sales job and began doing art full time. Apparently, hand drawn, photo realistic pencil art is popular enough to provide an income.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I love all things two wheels so we would go ride mountain bikes at the Cypresswood trails in Spring and after enjoy happy hour margaritas at Gringos located by Collins Park. The Pearl Fincher art gallery is right there too so we might visit that as well. Another favorite to take friends visiting is the Shop Club off 1960. It houses hundreds of exotic cars and has the Derby restaurant inside. I have art hanging in the lobby entrance too.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My close friends and family are the sole reason I’m a full time artist. If they had not been on board and encouraged me to tackle it full time, I wouldn’t have had the confidence taken the leap. My wife Lara is an accomplished oil painter and the Flagler Museum in Palm Beach FL commissions her to do John Heade reproductions. For her to urge me into this career was really all I needed. Other artist I looked up to were supportive as well. Chip Spirson, John Gleneicki and Troy Lee are all brilliant in their field and have provided incredible support.

Website: https://www.RichardHartArt.com

Instagram: @richardhartjr

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