About Richard

I have been a artist for over 45 years.

Throughout my life I have had a saying - "I don't want to be normal, I don't want to be extraordinary, I want to be interesting". And I do hope this has been represented in what I have done, what I am doing and what I am going to do.

In my early 20's I played the world professional tennis circuit roaming Australia and the world trying to fine tune my craft and trying to win.

I have my mother to thank for her tireless encouragement and support in taking me everywhere to local junior and Australian professional events for years. All the time quietly helping me to be a better player - a winner.

I then have my father to thank for his recognition in my artistic 'eye' I had for photography and the sense of purpose it gave me after my tennis career finished.

There's without doubt one kind photographic master, Gordon Undy, who for years taught me how to fine tune my photographic art to achieve a level of excellence I would otherwise never have achieved.

And a gentle man, a man who has unknowingly helped, is Peter Sis, a world renowned and awarded children's book artist that has, in his way, taught me a great deal about art and it's condition. And as Peter always says ‘….. onward’.

Justin, my younger 'super off the planet intelligent' brother, has also played a role in facilitating things that have given me the freedom to be who I am, an artist, a free artist.

And Amanda my wife, who knows me better than anyone and who teaches at Steiner school and then comes home to continue to teach me. Amanda is a integral critique with all my art.

With photography stretching over 40 years now, Drawings for 10, I am now venturing into some new artistic areas - music, video and movie script writing. There's no rush for these, just areas I am interested in and am quietly working on in between.

A a photographer, I like to tell stories and photography is my language. You can see over 50 exhibits, stories, in the Photography section on this site.

Each has a different photographic medium deliberately chosen to enhance the story to bring the story to life. Polaroid, 35mm Black & White Film, 4 x 5 Inch Black and White Film, Wetplate, Bromide, Mobile Digital, 35mm Digital and now video are all used throughout my photographic art.

I am a Pastel Drawing artist for 10 years now. I have a collection of over 3000 drawings, a 'naive' style but with a strong intention for fun. After a hiatus late 2019 I am now back mid 2020 producing new drawings which have evolved into something slightly different.

More on my music, video production and Movie Script writing a little later 2020 - 2021.

Testimonials

World renowned Author and Artist

www.facebook.com/peter.sis.art

"'The Last Breath'. I did not read the story only after I looked at the pictures number of times, very powerful, humanity-eyes-touches-connections- hard to put in the words but very strong. No poem,book,movie can beat it. Continuity…flowers and veils….feet and touch ......sensitivity" 

Gordon Undy - Master Photographer

Point Light Gallery

"Richard has a vision of the world showing an enviable innocence most of us lost when we became untrusting of it and began to make it look the way we thought others want to see it. His vision is honest and clear with a distinctive creativity. There is no artifice in his work - simply Art." 

Lindsay Cunningham

Dugong

"Richard's artistic perspective finds beauty and inspiration in a drop of seawater." 

Melissa Egan

World Acclaimed Painter

"Richard is a man of true integrity, sensitivity and compassion. All these qualities are reflected in his exquisite photographs." 

Peter Cocklin

Director - Kodak

"When Richard approached Kodak for support six years ago we could see that there was a great deal of promise in his work. Today there is no doubt that Richard is delivering on that promise as is evidenced by his work and the many accolades that he has received."

Robert McFarlane

Master Photographer & Writer

"Richard's work needs no instruction for enjoyment .... I felt I had attended a seminar on Zen. .....Richard is clearly an accomplished photographer. His exquisit portrait of a blind Indian albino girl called Savitri will stand the test of time." 

Steve Forbes

Publisher and Chairman Forbes Magazine

"They say a picture is worth a thousand words. But Richard O'Farrell's gifted photography work will leave you speechless".

Robert McFarlane

Master Photographer & Writer

""When I first viewed the Cloudscapes of Richard O'Farrell I was reminded of American photographer Diane Arbus who proclaimed that photography provides a process of "recognizing what you've never seen”.

Peter Sis

World renowned Author and Artist

"I like the work of Richard O'Farrell. It is magic, and, he is a true magician .....I know ..... I am aspiring to be one ....."

Steve Forbes

Publisher and Chairman Forbes Magazine

"They say a picture is worth a thousand words. But Richard O'Farrell's gifted photography work will leave you speechless”.

World Acclaimed Painter

Melissa Egan

"Richard is a man of true integrity, sensitivity and compassion. All these qualities are reflected in his exquisite photographs.”

Gordon Undy

Master Photographer

"Our ability to create a finished product as completely wonderful as his. What more can I say? To see Richard's work is to know what we all seek”.

Banksi

"How does he do it? Has he that magic? Richard’s photographs are full of wonderful events and moments that we have all missed”. One of those photographers who recognises his best photographs are the ones he has missed. I see this, Am I one of the few who has an idea of how to do that without annoying or noticing anyone or even myself."

Dugong

Marketing Genius

What more can I say? To see Richard's work is to know what we all seek".