Meet Richard Greathouse of Berry Hill

Today we’d like to introduce you to Richard Greathouse. 

Richard, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I was born and raised here in Nashville, and I was always into drawing and painting from a young age. After a brief stint at an architecture program in college, I decided to drop out and pursue painting by enrolling at the Florence Academy of Art in Florence, Italy. I studied drawing and painting there for four years, after which I stayed on as an instructor and lived and worked in Italy for nine years. While I was there, I met my wife, who is also an artist, and after getting married in 2019, we moved back to Nashville to open our own studio and grow our lives together here. Throughout all of that time, I have been creating personal work and exhibiting in shows while also teaching art and doing commission work. 

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has certainly not always been smooth. There were (and continue to be) moments of doubt along the way. The toughest period was probably the first year or two after finishing art school. Being dropped into the real world was a shock, after having become so lost in the confined intensity of art school. It was a period of figuring out “what” I wanted to paint, while also grappling with the “how” of making it work in the real world. Teaching was always a good supplement to keep things going, but lately, I have been able to move away from that and rely more on selling my work, whether through commissions, through galleries, or directly from my studio. 

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am primarily a painter, though I also make drawings and occasionally some sculptures. My paintings are typically in oil and my drawings are a mix of charcoal and graphite. I have always had a fascination with portraiture, which is what I spend most of my time doing, whether for personal studio projects or for commission work. I also paint landscapes and occasionally still lifes and am enjoying exploring various combinations of all of the above. When making portraits, I enjoy working directly from life whenever possible, as it lends a unique dimension to the work. I also employ a method of painting called indirect painting, in which translucent layers of paint are built up slowly over many sessions, with the aim of creating a work of depth and atmosphere that is unattainable through other means or media. I find this process to be incessantly intriguing, as it allows paintings to take on a life of their own, which is often unpredictable and difficult to control. I believe allowing for this sense of chaos is healthy for my general desire for order. 

Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
I owe much of my success to the support of my family, who have always been there and have never doubted my decision to follow this path, even when I myself have. I also owe many thanks to the art school I attended, The Florence Academy of Art, where I met so many individuals, teachers, fellow studio mates, etc., who opened my eyes to the harrowing but beautiful depths in which art-making exists. And most importantly, I owe so much to my wife, who is a tireless source of support, whether it be emotional, psychological, or practical. I really wouldn’t be where I am now without her. 

Pricing:

• My work ranges from small pieces priced at a few hundred dollars, to larger commissions priced at several thousand.

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: www.richardgreathouse.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rhgreathouse/