Illustration.

Richard began as an illustrator and designer in the 1960s after graduating from Pratt Institute, stepping into a world of publishing, culture, and visual storytelling. His early work found its way onto book covers, magazine pages, and into institutions like The Metropolitan Opera.

Among his most recognized contributions were his illustrations for the novels of Dick Francis — drawings rendered with such care and precision that they seemed to glow from within. His early work was exhibited nationally and recognized by institutions including the Society of Illustrators.

He didn't stay put. Illustration gave way to art direction at CBS, then to writing and producing for film and television, and eventually back to the studio and the sculptures. But the drawing never really stopped — it just changed what it was for, and this room follows it rather than the format it landed on. Most of these are paperbacks; the rest are record sleeves and a couple of drawings that were made for nothing at all. One of those is dated 2002, decades after the rest, which tells you how long the habit lasted.