Richard W. Willson

Richard W. Willson
323-251-0721
rwwillson@csupomona.edu
www.willson.myexpose.com

Richard Willson is a plein air painter in Los Angeles, California. A co-founder of the Mount Washington Plein Air Painters, his work seeks to create empathetic observation of the interaction of the natural and built environments. The geographic focus of his work is the communities of Northeast Los Angeles.

Willson's art is influenced by the urgency of global environmental challenges. He sees plein air painting is a way of understanding and appreciating nature, hence the "observation is environmentalism" theme. Plein air painting places the artist in a context of changing light, weather, seasonal variations, and plant cycles. It also provides opportunity to observe the effects of human activity on nature. In Willson's case, a bridge, road, or building is often seen in its relation to nature.

Willson's paintings are a parallel effort to his research and teaching activities on environmental sustainability as a professor at Cal Poly Pomona. Willson holds a Ph.D. in Urban Planning and has studied art at Otis Parsons Institute in Los Angeles.

“Observation is environmentalism because it helps us find our place in the natural world. These paintings are my interpretation of the natural and built environment in Los Angeles.”

EXHIBITIONS

2008 Southwest Museum, Los Angeles (Mount Washington Plein Air Painters)

2008 209 East Mariposa Street, Altadena ,CA

(Pasadena Waldorf School Festival of Art)

2008 Winestyles, South Pasadena (Mt. Washington Plein Air Painters Group Show)

2007 Ziegler House, Los Angeles

Arroyo Arts Discovery Tour (Group Show)

2007 Brenart, Pasadena, CA

Mount Washington (Group Show)

2006 River Center, Los Angeles, CA

Trust for Public Land River Center (Group Show)

2005 Acorn Gallery, Los Angeles, CA