My Account
Maungaturoto artist Richard Moore believes anyone can become an artist and has developed his own teaching programme to prove the point.
Despite inheriting some artistic talent from his mother, Richard is very much against what he sees as the elitist mysticism that surrounds the art world.
“I can teach someone who can’t do very good stick figures to produce saleable artworks,” Richard says
“It’s about switching on the right side of the brain, which is the artistic creative side. People have to trust in their natural ability and observation.”
After moving from Kerikeri to Maungaturoto in 2008, Richard and his wife Dianna started an art school from their home and they also travel to Whangarei and Auckland to teach. Richard doesn’t like to be pigeonholed for having any particular style or favourite medium.
“I’ve used practically everything; charcoal, acrylic, watercolour and sculpture,” Richard says. “I have carved emeralds and opals, even mammoth tusks!”
He discovered his love for art as a child running around the wilderness of Auckland’s North Shore, long before it became suburbia. He would collect small animals and insects and soon found the best way to preserve them was through drawing.
Richard exhibits his work at The Gallery, which overlooks Helena Bay, near Russell in the Bay of Islands. His main focus is on teaching, but when he does produce work it sells very quickly.
“I painted a totara with a morepork and took it up to Helena Bay. It was on the floor in the reception area. I was just on my way home when the owner called and told me to turn around and come back. The painting hadn’t even made it to the wall; it sold straight off the floor!”
