Introducing Richard Langton ..... Part One !
With our up and coming exhibition, Jungle is Massive, we thought we would take the opportunity to introduce the artist that has produced this magnificent body of work.... Richard Langton.
Richard was born in Chelmsford, Essex during the fine year that was 1975, the year Jaws was released. He moved to Devon when he was 8 and then moved to Newquay when he was 13, where he still lives today.
Richard started painting about 13 years ago. He had never picked up a brush before then.
"I discovered Jean-Michel Basquiat and was totally inspired by his approach to art. He painted freely, often crossing out words or just painting over mistakes and adding layers over old paint. He made you feel like there are no rules, no good or bad, almost like anyone can paint ( which I still believe today). Much like John Lyon with music ... "who wrote the rule book ?" ... just do what you feel"
Lion, Cheetah, Human by Richard Langton
"I read a lot, watch films and listen to music everyday. Bands like The Doors, Velvet Underground, Fugazi, The Drums and Joy Division are some of my favourites to paint to ... songs that have stories in. A lot of the time a painting will come about because of a particular line from a song or something in a movie I've seen, that will set me off. Sometimes ideas just come to me randomly and inspire me to start a piece. I never sketch, I'll just draw something direct to the canvas and then start painting. I use mainly acrylics because they dry quickly and you can write over them or layer them up. Many of my paintings will have 1 or 2 paintings underneath that I painted over"
Same but Different by Richard Langton
"I'm not trying to change the world with my paintings but some of them do have a message within them or a hidden story or in joke, just something to make you think. I guess I'd describe them as tongue in cheek, silly, funny, cartoonish and bright ... but mainly I paint to put a smile on your face"
A Mad Rare Switch Cheetah by Richard Langton
"Jungle is Massive" will take place at SaltWalls Gallery on the Crescent, Newquay, TR7 1DT. The preview evening for Richard's exhibition will be on Friday 21st October 2022 from 5pm until 8pm. Everyone is welcome, we will have refreshments and Richard will be in attendance to chat about his inspiration of art, films and music. The exhibition will then run until Monday 24th October 2022. If you can't make it to the gallery all the works can be seen and purchased online here:-
https://saltwalls.co.uk/collections/richard-langton-1
Many thanks to Richard for taking the time to help write part one of this blog, we have more questions that he has kindly answered which we will publish in part two, next week.