The artist, Richard Ryder, developed an affinity towards art at an early age where he took every opportunity to incorporate art into his assignments. During his early years, while attending elementary school, he would doodle on the blank side of envelopes or any discarded paper. This drove his passion to pursue taking studio art courses while in high school and continued that pursuit through to four-year formal art education. As an artist that is heavily influenced by graphic design, Art Deco, and traditional animation, Richard aims to capture the beauty in whichever subject he is painting. He focuses on ways to exploit the basic elements of art to create a satisfying and cohesive design. As an artist, Richard seeks to improve and challenge himself. He states that with the internet, I am constantly inspired by art either in the fine art or commercial field. It is this exposure that leads me to constantly explore different mediums and styles."