Aesthetic tastes are as varied as the styles they seek:  from the decorative murals of early Pompeian Italy to the austere spirituality of the Gothic;  the lush opulence of the late Baroque and Rococo to the more subtle compilations of the Empire and Neoclassical.  In the Victorian we see again the floral and organic as it pares down to the cool elegance of Art Deco...

We arrive at our own decades often with seemingly stark stylistic polarities, but those that reflect the varied tastes of individuals- in itself a type of modern aesthetic: an eclectic style.

My name is Richard Smith.  My experience in the decorative painting field has brought me into contact with many of the attitudes and styles that constitute the modern aesthetic.  For over 30 years my work has been based in New York doing decorative painting and fine art for a variety of clients and decorators locally and nationally, from fine quality easel paintings to large scale projects with murals, sculpture, gilding and faux finishes.   This work has taken me from estates in Palm Beach, Washington DC, Dallas, St. Louis, Boston, San Fransisco, Los Angeles, The Hamptons, and New Jersey to the Penthouse suites, hotels, restaurants and corporate offices of Manhattan.

Often the request is for simple elegant surface textures as background for an art collection or to highlight and augment other decor.  These textures, commonly known as faux finishes, range from subtle glazes and patinas to graining or marbleizing (faux bois and faux marbre) of walls or detail moldings.  The variety of simulations and inventions is endless:  encaustic, parchment, leather, grass thatch, fabric etc.; stencils as borders or entire walls of Victorian patterns;  gold and other metallic gilding of ceilings and walls or highlights on moldings or Corinthian capitals; patinated surfaces of gold or painted furniture often made to appear mellow with age. And of course, there is the Venetian Plasters: a variety of sheens and textures can be obtained with these slaked lime plasters and their marble dust additives; a beautiful product to the eye and touch. 

The more ornate sensibilities request trompe l’oeil:  moldings and motifs painted on surfaces to appear three dimensional.  Murals are the grandest illusionistic form of trompe l’oeil: images painted in niches or entire rooms of walls and ceilings painted on site or in the studio on canvas and installed. The final highlight is often a portrait or framed painting bringing the client's and/or decorator's concept to completion.

I only hire the finest artists and artisans to assist me; their backgrounds and education diverse but all extremely talented in their chosen field.

I have a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Painting from Rhode Island School of Design and a Masters of Fine Arts in Painting from The Graduate  School of Figurative Art of the New York Academy of Art. My business is insured and a list of references is available.