Today we’d like to introduce you to Richard Lerma.
Richard, we’d love to hear your story and how you got to where you are today both personally and as an artist.
I think of myself as fairly new to the Art “game.” I consider myself a creative that specializes in Design for the most part, just because it’s what I’ve been doing for so long. My first degree I had was a BBA in Business Marketing with minors in Creative writing and Art history. After a couple of years, I decided that business marketing wasn’t as creative as I thought it would be. So, as I progressively got bored, I went back to school and obtained another degree, this time a BFA in Graphic Design. That allowed me to get hands-on creative. I freelanced for a while working as an Art Director for various creative studios and brands. I also worked in-house for a bit for different companies helping them grow their brands reach, identities and messages. After quite some time I decided along with my husband to start our own small duo of a creative studio, and that’s how Richard Lerma Design and Development started.
I’ve always been a creative person since the time I could remember whether it was watching This Old House on T.V. with my grandpa marveling in the architecture, to watching Fashion T.V. on the tele with my mom, and even choreographing dance routines with my friends to Spice Girls out in the front lawn when I was younger. I knew that I wanted to further venture into that realm, exploring my innovative side. It is in having those experiences that allowed me to be open to different inspirations as I grew older.
We’d love to hear more about your art. What do you do? Why? And what do you hope others will take away from your work?
Working with clients for so many years with branding, development, etc. I noticed that my creative level in a more personal context was dwindling. I had created for other people for so long, creating for myself became secondary. In a selfish way, I started making art just for me. I had to make art that would creatively get my mind going. In doing so, I became more inventive more productive, not just for myself but for my clients as well.
My artwork is heavily design focused. My background in graphic design leads the way when it comes to producing new pieces. For the most part, it’s all digitally created. With that, you’ll find a mixture of clean lines, geometric shapes, illustrations, and collaged images. There may be 3 – 5 different elements in a piece, but it remains balanced in a way. At times seeming or questioning, should there be more? Or better yet, if there was more would it be too much?
I’ve always had a very minimal aesthetic, and you get that just from looking at what I construct. In my opinion, my art has no hidden messages. There isn’t anything to ponder. There is no buried debate. It’s up close, straight forward and the feeling you get is instant, whatever feeling that may be… A lot of that is influenced by my background. It is our job to communicate a message that is easily understood to the masses. Graphic design is all about messaging, and good messaging is messaging that is direct. Art can be direct.
How can artists connect with other artists?
Some people have this exclusive ideology of the art scene. We’ve all seen it, in someway felt it, whether you are an artist or not. Different artist will try to outdo one another on where they showed, what gallery took them in etc. In some weird way, it makes them feel important or better than. That’s why new artists may feel lonely because that’s what they hear and within hearing that they may feel like they are not good enough. It can be intimidating to artists who want to branch out and not know where to go or who to turn to. Art is subjective. You kind of have to have this understanding that one person can think a piece is a mess and others may think it’s great.
Don’t be afraid to go out, don’t be afraid to show your work, don’t be afraid to make connections. Everyone has a taste, an aesthetic, something that pulls them in. It’s all different. Yours will suit someone else’s interest. Today’s social media age is a great window to explore, to create, to share. Start off just by using those platforms. Stop hiding what you create. Get feedback, examine the responses you get. Then modify, accept and learn form it. From there, explore other venues, like small galleries, community galleries, town/city events etc.
Know that you create art because art is an innate human extinct to express one’s self, and not a way to be “different”.
Do you have any events or exhibitions coming up? Where would one go to see more of your work? How can people support you and your artwork?
I’ll be showing in the upcoming Bayou City Art Festival in Memorial Park, March 29-31.
You can also see my work at richardlerma.com/art
Houston is one of the greatest cities you can live in in general. But it’s art scene is like no other. I believe in supporting all artist, whether big or small. That’s what makes art in Houston so great. It’s not this exclusive ideology some people still believe and or are a part of. Houston is very much inclusive to all artist, just as it is in the geography of its city.
Contact Info:
- Website: richardlerma.com/art
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @richard_lerma
Image Credit:
All art is made by me.
Getting in touch: VoyageHouston is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
