Richard G. Murphy

I’ve always been drawn to faces — the kind that reveal a story without saying a word. After years working as a writer and producer in film and television, I returned to my first love: painting. What began as a quiet experiment in portraiture quickly grew into something much more personal — a way to reconnect with the people and places around me through the lens of art.

The Facescape Series is an ongoing collection of acrylic portraits featuring friends, neighbors, and others who’ve shaped my life here in Los Angeles. These aren’t commissioned likenesses — they’re everyday people captured in a moment of reflection or stillness, painted with bold color, clean edges, and a sense of presence. Each piece is both a tribute and a conversation — an effort to really see someone, and in doing so, reflect something honest back to the viewer.

Though I didn’t attend art school, painting has always been in the background for me — sketchbooks, figure studies, portraits of my dogs. Over time, I’ve developed a direct, graphic style rooted in narrative and observation. My other series (Heartland and Canine Series) explore related ideas of identity, place, and connection.

Ultimately, my work is about people — their stories, their expressions, and the quiet power of simply being seen.