Monotype on Japanese Paper, relief ink and oil paint. Image is 13"x16", with 3.5" matted border and shrink wrap protected.  These works are part of a series titled, "Woman and Man," they are sequential and are numbered in the order that the artist creates them.

Nevada City artist Richard Downs (youngest brother of Class XII's Charlie Downs) received a BFA in illustration from Art Center College of Design in 1984 and was a faculty member for 6 years at the school. Richard currently teaches editorial illustration at Sierra College in Nevada County and the Rocklin campus.

Richard is an award winning editorial illustrator who has worked for most United States periodicals and newspapers ranging from The Progressive to National Geographic and international organizations such as the International Monetary Fund and the United Nations publication divisions. In the cyberworld Richard was a frequent contributor to Salon and a consultant on CD ROM games including Riven the sequel to Myst, the most influential and best selling computer game in history and Richard designed the unique interface for the now classic Edgar Allan Poe CD ROM ,The Dark Eye. Richard's recent work in 2009 for Phoenix Magazine has been included in The Society of Illustrators Museum in New York, NY.

This work continues Richard's personal exploration of the mythical human figure engaged. Using the figure as a metaphor of our need to connect to others, our communities, our world, and ourselves.

Sacramento Bee Art Critic Victoria Dalkey said this about Richard's monotypes in a review. "His elegant yet emotive monotypes focus on abstracted male and female figures engaged in archetypal relationships. These rich and sophisticated graphics quietly steal the show."