TITLE: DON ROBERTO
ARTIST: ERIKA RICHERT

If I were asked to define my style, Expressionist's Impressionist would be as close as I could get, but I suppose in time I'll have another name for it. My point of departure is real life, but I certainly don't confine myself to "drawing inside the lines". My depictions are intense, not real, yet more than real — they will "crawl under your skin". You will definitely never find archetypes, as my peoples have thoughts, moods and personalities. I see the individual, start the portrait and let it take me where it wants to go. The bulk of my sales come from commissions. People want to see themselves through my eyes.

For me, painting is a "raison d'etre". I have always been attracted to bright colors and to colorful people. The human condition fascinates me and I have always been extremely interested in people and what makes them tick.

I currently reside in Livermore with my husband, his tropical fish and our two cats.