My name is Richard Maul,
R. Maul as my artwork is signed.
About Me
Richard Maul
My Journey
- 1947I was born in 1947 in a 17” snowstorm in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Growing up in Wisconsin, I had an idyllic childhood, playing in wide-open fields and forests, chasing frogs, and looking for garter snakes. My first interest in art started when I was 7 or 8 and enjoyed drawing birds and other animals. But a teacher accused me of tracing my drawing and I was so traumatized that I did not draw again until I went to college.
- 1965In 1965 I left Wisconsin to attend the University of Illinois. There I rediscovered my passion for art and was reassured when a famous artist teaching at the time, explained that tracing in art, is just like scales in music. He suggested that I trace the Sear’s catalog to improve my hand/eye coordination. And it truly did work. Through my studies, I was introduced to most forms of art – pencil, pen and ink, oils, pastels, and watercolors. At the time, I didn’t like the soaking and stretching involved with watercolors and initially settled into pen and ink.
- 1969After I graduated in 1969 with a BFA, I moved back to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and eventually joined up with a group of artisans, who were exploring and working in various mediums. We opened a combination leather shop, shoe repair, and art gallery that attracted a rather eclectic clientele and did quite well. At that time, I began working in pen and ink and the pen and ink drawings on this site are reflective of that period, circa 1969-1975.
- 1970’sIn the early 1970s, I returned to Urbana-Champaign to visit friends. Although I intended to move west after that visit, fate had other plans for me. I met my future wife, got married, started working as a graphic designer, became a father, added a variety of cats and dogs to our family, and settled into family and work-life in Urbana-Champaign.
- 1980In the 80”s I began experimenting. I found I could wax the watercolor paper to a piece of hardboard and I didn’t have to soak and stretch. It works very well, even with heavy washes!
- 1980s-2021For the last 40 years, I have done drawings and paintings of the Midwest, Idaho, Hawaii, Europe, and California. Although I have explored various mediums, I always returned to watercolors. I have 3 distinct groups of painting: landscapes, flowers, and whimsy. I enjoy painting all three types and as I grow older, the whimsy is more attractive, but I always enjoy painting flowers! I hope you enjoy my collection!