Paul Richmond Blog

Sanctuary , oil on panel by Paul Richmond My new painting, Sanctuary , evolved over the past several months during which we launched the You Will Rise Project , a website that features artwork, stories, poems, videos and other creative expressions by victims of bullying. Consequently, I began reflecting on my own experience of being bullied and used it as the inspiration for this piece. I was constantly made fun of as a child for being effeminate, quiet, tall, and uncoordinated. My coping mechanism was to disappear into my imagination. There, I could explore fantastical worlds where bullying, self-doubt, and fear were never welcome. A gangly, awkward boy from the Midwest could become a fairy tale princess or a glamorous movie star. And when the white walls of home felt too confining, more enchanted surroundings were just around the corner. Art gave me a means of capturing my daydreams, making them real, and seeing the work of other artists meant being invited into their secret wor...

Linda Regula, my childhood art teacher, and I are launching an online project dedicated to giving the victims of bullying a voice through the arts. The You Will Rise Project provides a multimedia showcase for drawings, paintings, sculptures, videos, poetry, and other creative expressions by people of all ages, representing their experiences with bullies. Linda and I were bullied as kids, and we believe channeling those experiences into powerful works of art can be both healing for the artist and inspiring for viewers. Please visit the You Will Rise Project and take a moment to share the link with all those who might benefit from viewing and/or participating.