Catherine Richardson writes about her work, “The upper mantle of the earth’s crust holds my attention; especially the northern latitudes, Arctic circle, and the mystery of the ice sheets, and what is happening to them due to climate change. Those landscapes and landforms are a constant topic in my work. I am a humble element in my connection to the greater forces of nature. Works become a cartography of inquiry into geomorphology, landforms, and history. Paintings juxtapose abstract shapes suggesting rock formations and extreme vistas with detailed imaginary textures derived from mixing materials and observing natural phenomena. Effects in the work are often gleaned from observing natural phenomena while out walking/hiking in rural untamed vistas. I work in varying scale and choose to explore and play with materials from creating detailed drawings to large gestures that might convey planetary curvature. Allowing concoctions of mediums to build textural surfaces on paper and/or panels suggests topographical and underground terrain. Using elements from the environment (e.g., rainwater, earth, pond-scum, plant material), I pursue surface effects using natural processes as a guide. Viewing the works, one can detect ice patterns, wood grain, evaporation lines, maps, decay, and scraping.”

Richardson was a grantee of the Sonoma County Emerging Artist Award. In 2018, her work won a First Prize award from “Visions of Science” exhibition at Bath Edge Arts, University of Bath, United Kingdom. She has exhibited in the UK and the USA. Richardson was born in the United Kingdom, and lives and works in Santa Rosa, California, and the U.K.

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