Artist Statement

I paint outdoors to capture real light, real atmosphere, and the quiet tension in natural spaces. My PleinAir work is direct and observational, shaped by a desire to preserve fleeting moments in a changing world. But I also spend time in the studio, where I build on those field studies — translating sketches, memories, and impressions into more layered pieces. Both modes reflect the same curiosity: how place, rhythm, and emotional memory live in paint.

Much of my work is shaped by the places I’ve explored across the country — from quiet harbors in Maine, to the vastness of Denali, to the glowing Pacific coastline at dusk. Wherever I set up my easel, I carry with me the sensibility honed in New England: an eye for atmosphere, for seasonal nuance, for the emotional weight held in the land. My aim isn’t to document geography — it’s to interpret the character of place, and how each region speaks to memory and adaptation in its own distinct voice.

Each piece is a study in attention: the weight of light, the edges between motion and stillness, and the sense of adaptation held in these places. I paint them to remember, and to invite others to see their own stories reflected in them.

Artist Bio

Born and raised in Western Massachusetts, Rich Picard began his creative journey into painting in 2024 after decades leading innovation and design in manufacturing. Inspired by his beautiful children and a lifelong love of the outdoors, Rich’s work reflects his intrigue with PleinAir painting and the sensory depth of natural environments. His layered compositions merge technical insight with raw expression, exploring themes of memory, transformation, and ecological rhythm. He paints to share the vision within—and to invite others into its evolution.