Richard Collens
Richard Collens is a lifelong artist and photographer, originally from Southwestern Ontario, but calling Calgary Alberta home for the last 37 years. He has an insatiable desire for adventure, road trips and finding beauty in natural surroundings; "making the journey the destination". Although he has had a camera in his hand since he was young, he initially used his photographs as references for drawings and paintings that he was creating at the time. He started taking his photography more seriously later in life, focusing more on the quality, hygiene and artistry of his images.
Art and photography is a passion that helps Richard slow down the otherwise excessively fast pace of life. Where the art of painting and drawing allows Richard to slow down, he is in control and can create whatever comes to mind, however he would like it to appear, with whatever media he happens to choose. Richard finds Photography more challenging, because it requires more perception; looking deeper into the scenery, finding the moment in time and trying to find that spirit that lives within that scenery, since he is not in control of the surroundings. Richard strives to find that artistic image and spirit wherever he goes and hopes to capture it when he has his camera in his hand.
"For me, the journey IS the destination. It's amazing what you find off the beaten path; pristine wilderness, forgotten bits of a previous settlement and a good cross section of life and natural history. I like to mix life and landscape, reclamation, regeneration, the defiance and the resilience of nature. The selections I make for my portfolio have a soul in them that speak to me. Everything has a spirit within it, and if you can capture that soul in an image, it's magic." – Richard Collens
“Vagabond”
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Photography is a passion that not only helps me slow down the pace of life, but also allows me to explore a little deeper, not only the scenery, but a part of myself that is often conveyed into the images I capture. The selections I make for my portfolio have a soul in them that speak to me. I’ve often spoken of how everything has a spirit within it and capturing that spirit is important to me in my photographs. There is a mysterious draw that old and abandoned hotels have, some of which I can’t pass by without taking a few photographs, no matter how many times I’ve passed by them before, and no matter how many times I’ve photographed them. Although some of these buildings have been long since abandoned, they are still alive, defying their mortality to contain the secrets of the energies they possess; vagabond energies that get left behind. The experiences of people passing through, experiences both good and bad. These images capture the soul of the spiritual / architectural muse that draws me in.
THE AMERICAN HOTEL
Limited Edition of 1, signed and numbered
2020
Hahnemuhle Museum Etching cotton rag
15" x 10"
$300 Framed
RESERVED FOR ROYALTY
Limited Edition of 1, signed and numbered
2013
Hahnemuhle Museum Etching cotton rag
15" x 10"
$300 Framed
BACK DOOR HOTEL
Limited Edition of 1, signed and numbered
2020
Hahnemuhle Museum Etching cotton rag
15" x 10"
$300 Framed
THIS IS THE PLACE
Limited Edition of 1, signed and numbered
2020
Hahnemuhle Museum Etching cotton rag
15" x 28"
$575 Framed
PLUM PURPLE PERSPECTIVE (sold)
Limited Edition of 1, signed and numbered
2022
Hahnemuhle Museum Etching cotton rag
10" x15"
$300 Framed
SHAPE SHIFTING (sold)
Limited Edition of 1, signed and numbered
2022
Hahnemuhle Museum Etching cotton rag
10" x15"
$300 Framed
REFLECTIONS OF THE PAST (sold)
Limited Edition of 1, signed and numbered
2015
Hahnemuhle Museum Etching cotton rag
10" x10"
$225 Framed
THE SHADY AMERICAN (sold)
Limited Edition of 1, signed and numbered
2013
Hahnemuhle Museum Etching cotton rag
31" x10"
$575 Framed