Richard earned a Master of Fine Arts in sculpture and drawing from the University of Iowa and has resided in Jerome, Arizona (population 450) since 1980.

In 1987 he received a Fulbright Fellowship for independent research in masked rituals in Burkina Faso, West Africa, where he spent 10 1/2 months. Soon after his return, he founded the Jerome Kids’ Art Workshop; and in the early 1990’s it was not uncommon to see a parade of children featuring masks, sculptures and wearable art created in the workshop. +20 years later, that summer program continues!

Richard has taught a variety of art workshops to all age-groups and learning abilities, including seminars for secondary teachers and college students, in 13 states and one foreign country.  Lesson plans with photo-examples of students’ art projects are available within this site.

For most of 2002 through 2024, Richard’s primary focus has been building a sculptural house of his own design, outside the Historic District in Jerome. Since then, he has re-started production in his ceramics and sculpture studio, making unique and functional objects for sale. Richard still constructs wearable art for special occaisons; and is considered part of the creative foundation of the artists’ community in Jerome, Arizona.