RICHARD DOWNS
Exhibiting: June 4 - July 20
Reception: June 21, 5 - 8pm
Please join us for an evening of fine art, food, wine & live music!
Art Talk at 7pm!

The Artists' Studio in the Foothills is thrilled to announce a solo exhibition of works by painter, sculptor & designer Richard Downs. The show features paintings, sculpture and original prints from the 1980's to 2019.

The public is invited for an opening reception on Friday, June 21st from 5 - 8pm. A live jazz performance with food and wine will begin at 5pm. At 7pm, guests are invited to join Downs for a sit down discussion about the work in the center's main gallery.

Richard Downs' art making combines contemporary aesthetics with the rich history of sculpture and printmaking to create images that feel both current and timeless. He has worked for numerable United States periodicals and newspapers ranging from Smithsonian Magazine to the New York Times, and international organizations such as the International Monetary Fund and the United Nations publication divisions.

Downs is a graduate of the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, CA and was a faculty member there for 6 years. He currently teaches in the Applied Art & Design department at Sierra College in Rocklin and Online Illustration classes for the Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design. Richard has received numerous awards for his work including American Illustration and the Society of Illustrators Museum in New York.

Richard creates media appropriate and conceptually appropriate image making for a wide range of clients and art collectors.
Downs transfigures steel, twisted wire, painting and printmaking into a visual mythology celebrating human connectedness. Classically trained, Richard emerged out of Art Center Pasadena as an accomplished printmaker and visual storyteller inspired by Russian Constructivism and the “Kustomizer” car culture of the 1950s and 60s.

During his more than 30 years of dedication to the fine arts, Richard Downs exhibits his sculptures, etchings and paintings throughout the United States and galleries in Atlanta, GA and Seattle, WA.

Public Art, Museum Features & Publications...
In 2017 Richard was named a finalist for the Fire Station 15 Public Art Project for the city of Sacramento. Richard’s Monotype "Couple #303" was selected by The Hunter Museum of American Art for their 2015 Art Auction.
Richard's work was selected for the Crocker art museums 2012 Art Auction. His monotype, "Couple #203" was auctioned at the Crocker art museum and enjoyed a record price for one of his works on paper. His sculptural work, "Couple #276" was selected for the Crocker art museum's 2014 Art Auction and enjoyed a record price for one of the sculptures.
Downs' work was profiled in the June 2013 Issue of Sactown Magazine, the Winter 2013 issue of Studio Visit, the January issue of US Airways Magazine, the June 2014 issue of San Francisco Magazine and a feature cover article in the August 2014 issue of Designer Magazine published by UCDA (University & College Designers Association) titled, “Reinventing Richard Downs”. Richard lives in Nevada City with his wife and artist Gwyn Stramler.

Master Class with R. Downs - for ASIF Student Artist - Summer Interns…
In conjunction with Richard Down's solo show, ASiF's Summer Internship program and Richard Downs will be offering a one day workshop/Master Class to it's two summer interns (one college age and one high school age art student) and three other young artists for which ASiF is now accepting applications (see contact info below to apply). This is a fabulous opportunity for five young artists to learn from a professional artist how to sculpt with everyday materials such as cardboard, wire, tape, hot glue, etc... The workshop is being offered pro-bono by Richard Downs as a gift to enrich the education of young artists in his local community. Students will pay for a small list of supplies such as markers, poster board, matt knives, glue guns, etc.

Young artists ages 16 - 20 who are interested in applying for one of the three spots available in the one day Master Class with Richard Downs this summer (dates TBA), please apply by emailing owner, director Amanda Paoletti at amandapaoletti.asif@gmail.com!

MASTER CLASS INFO:
July 14, 2019 / 12:30 - 4:30pm
Supply list to be furnished to students

“Sketching and thinking is always more fun than locking down the design and building it” - Richard

From analog design to digital preproduction Downs will take the students through a tour of designing in 3D. Using tape, hot glue, cardboard and paper materials the students will learn how to design and envision a sculpture that can be scalable to any size using a Smart Phone and Photoshop. Richard will be working on his own Maquette for a new sculpture commission along side the students in a comfortable classroom setting.