Richard Kirk is an oil painter living in Naples, Florida. Richard’s current paintings are whimsical and playful, but he has worked extensively as an illustrator and portrait painter. In addition to his work as a painter and illustrator, he is a dedicated painting instructor. Richard teaches classes at both the Naples Art Association and the Center for the Arts Bonita Springs. His classes have included Advanced Oil and Acrylic Painting, Portrait Painting, Beginning Drawing and Figure Drawing.

Richard studied illustration at Palomar College in San Marcos, California and established his illustration business in Boston, Massachusetts. His illustration clients included Dexter Shoes, Fidelity Investment, RGA Publishing, Cahners Publishing and Harvard Magazine, to name a few.

In addition, Richard has written and self-published four books designed to help his students learn the basics of drawing, painting, portrait painting and color theory.

His fundamental belief about painting shapes his work and his teaching: “Creating a painting does not make me an artist. Artists create something extraordinary from three primary conditions: experience, knowledge and ability. Until I am able to pull instantly from those three primary conditions, I am a student. Nevertheless, my taking pride in being a student moves me closer to being an artist.”