Richard Grahn

My inspiration comes from nature, and virtually all my projects begin with my nature photography. Photographs are digitally collaged and edited into abstract works using various photo-editing tools such as the open-source image editor GIMP. Results can range from complete abstract expressionism to impressionism.Living in the city makes it challenging to keep my collection of nature photography freshly stocked, so I find myself perusing the local gardens in spring and summer to keep the inventory up for the long winter months. Flowers are a staple in my art and provide much of the explosive color found in my creations. I also have an affinity for trees as they provide patterning and texture for the images. Even the most abstract images have an organic feel because they start out with these natural elements.Some of my most important artistic influencers are Ansel Adams, Georgia O'Keeffe, Salvador Dali, and the sculptor Henry Moore.

Born in the rolling hills of southern Wisconsin, Richard is a country boy living in a city. Can't take the country out of the man, though. He has lived a diverse life in many areas of the United States and abroad, and now resides on the outskirts of Chicago, Illinois. He's been producing art, poetry, and music, on and off for over forty years interspersed with a long period of computer programming and web design, which ultimately led him to his current favorite form of visual expression—digitally altered photography. He has a long history, also, as a sculptor and painter.