Justin Richel: The Jewel Of The Mind Becomes Jaded In Time

The Jewel Of The Mind Becomes Jaded In Time, by Justin Richel

Justin Richel was born in New Jersey in 1979. He is an artist whose main focus is painting complex and detailed compositions that range in content from mountains of sweets, to men with ridiculous wigs, and presidents and birds. These works share a common theme of an underlying social commentary. He is primarily a painter, whose medium of choice is gouache. Justin received his BFA from the Maine College of Art. He also studied the technique of Icon painting at the Franciscan Monastery in Kennebunk, ME and was a fellow at The Fine Arts Work Center in Provincetown, MA for two years. He now reside in the northwest mountains of Maine, with his lovely lady Shannon and their adorable kitty. His work has exhibited throughout the U.S. and recently in Switzerland, Germany and China.

Process sketch/reference drawing

About the print:
The Jewel Of The Mind Becomes Jaded In Time is from an original gouache painting. This print is about potential, and the gift that we are all given. We can choose to take advantage of this amazing faculty or squander it in vain. Our minds are our greatest gift. We have the ability to solve all of the world's challenges through positive and responsible solutions.

This print was digitally printed on Hahnemühle german etching archival fine art paper with pigment-based, Epson UltraChrome K3 inks.

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What has inspired you recently?
Nature is my biggest inspiration. I am amazed by its beauty and its ability to function as an entity all of its own. I like to be outside as much as possible. It feeds a part of me that I don't get from creating art. It has the ability to help me find my center and nature reminds me that all of this world is running a natural course - that struggle as we might to control it, we can also go along with the flow and let go of our resistance. It's all so much easier when I am able to do this.

Why did you choose to pair Architecture For Humanity with your print?
I chose Architecture For Humanity because it's a perfect example of what I was talking about when I mentioned our ability to solve challenges through positive and responsible solutions. Architecture plays a very important role in society, now more than ever before. We are starting to see a shift away from the modern era and realizing that there is so much more to building a structure than simply aesthetic decisions. It is becoming a science of sorts and looking to include nature as a collaborator rather than something in the way.

How have you seen art transform the world around you?
Art is essentially a way of seeing and communicating the world around us. It seems the boundaries between art and life are becoming increasingly blurred to the point that one could argue that there is no difference between the two, only a choice of perception. Artists are always shaping the way we see and experience life. I don't think people should feel like art is something that hangs on a wall and that sometimes you look at it on your way to the living room. Art has the ability to transform by sharing insight.



If you could pick one artist to mentor you, who would it be?
Buckminster Fuller. He was a modern renaissance man in the truest sense, and well ahead of his time. He had a deep understanding of the role design should play in our lives and our responsibility for using our minds for the greater good of humanity. I think we could all use a little Bucky right now.

Who are some artists that other people should know about?
Well I have to start close to home and share the work of my lovely lady Shannon Rankin. She makes wonderful map collages and installations. Tim Horn - amazing sculpture. If you haven’t heard of Buckminster Fuller, I would have a look. Jenny Kendler, Walton Ford, and many others - check out my artist link page on my site.