Richard Mayhew

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Mayhew refers to himself as "an improvisationalist." when describing his work. He says that he uses "painting terms like expressionism only as reference point for others. They don't understand improvisation...real, gut feeling, the act of improvising as the act of discovery. That's abstract expression. That's jazz." His affinity to the land comes from his African American and Native American heritage, says Mayhew. "It's a dual commitment to nature. The land is very important to both cultures in terms of stimulation and spiritual sensitivity, and it's very important to me." For Mayhew, that connection to the land transfers intuitively to the canvas. However, Mayhew adds, "Many of my so-called landscapes are very abstract because they are very free-form; I am involved with the spiritual feeling of space. My art is based on a feeling - of music, mood, sensitivity and the audio responses of sound and space. I want the essence of the inner soul to be on the canvas." Mayhew's mastery of light and color contribute to paintings that are mystical with close tonal harmonies and diffused landscapes that often flow into abstraction. His muted colors, delicate pastels, lush greens and deep purplish-blues create moods that are real and imagined, earthly and ethereal.

Born in Amityville, New York, Richard attended Academia, Florence, Italy, Columbia University, Brooklyn Museum Art School.