We recently connected with Richard Ferguson and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Richard, thanks for joining us today. One of the toughest things about progressing in your career is that there are almost always unexpected problems that come up – problems that you often can’t read about in advance, can’t prepare for, etc. Have you had such and experience and if so, can you tell us the story of one of those unexpected problems you’ve encountered?

I was classically trained as a fine artist in a time before personal computers. The only electronics available were radio and television. All of my training was manual, hands-on with analog equipment and tools. Since I was fully committed to Art, the thought of a digital world never crossed my mind.
My first experience with digital work came when I was given a demonstration by Apple of their new computer, the Macintosh. When I saw drawings and type setting being displayed I was enthralled. This was going to change everything. From that moment on, I begin learning how this new medium worked and how I could become a user of it.
The first issue I dealt with was access. Luckily, the company I worked for was given two Macs to play around with. I got permission to take some time and see what I could do. I was surprised at how intuitive the Mac was. I was able to create a drawing and some type my first session.
This experience opened a world of opportunity for me that eventually led to my first company.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I was born in Mississippi and after graduating high school, Attended the University of Southern Mississippi Art schools.
I majored in Fine Art with a minor in creative writing. I earned a BFA in drawing and painting.
During the next few years, I held several position including newspaper journalists and photographer then as the Art Director for Mississippi’’s second largest daily, the Hattiesburg American.
After several years, I decided that a move was going to be necessary if my art career was going to advance.
My young family put all our belongings in a U-Haul truck and struck out for Portland, Oregon.
Once there, I obtained a position with a large Northwest General Store named Fred Meyer after the founder.
It was during this time in the early eighties that I held my first one man show.
I begin supplementing my income with freelance work doing illustrations and design projects.
I also began designing a tabloid newspaper for kids titled Young American. I was able to use all my skills and loved the work. It was here that I moved the company to production on the Mac. Eventually, the company acquired a Linotronic imagesetter and I quickly converted production to full digital.
I was still doing traditional illustration by hand and airbrush but moved as much as possible into the Mac. During this time. I received access to an experimental color scanner. I had one of my illustrations scanned and printed in the YA magazine. This was the first digital color separation produced on a Mac and published.
I eventually started my own company, Maxim Graphics. After years in business, I converted part of my graphic studio into an Art Studio.
Ferguson Fine Arts was born.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

Although I was trained as a fine artist, I had to earn my living in other ways. I credit my experience and my readiness to tackle new skills when needed. I have never hesitated to tackle new aspects of my experience. This has led to new and exciting opportunities. I always supplemented my work with reading everything applicable to what I wanted to accomplish. I never excepted the status quo and always brought new ideas, techniques and later, technologies to projects.
This is evident with my art. Although trained with the schools of post impressionist, abstract expressionism and pop Art, I was never satisfied with that and begin my journey to develop my skill as a realist painter.
After many years, I have mastered that genre to the point of winning many regional and national awards. It’s taken 15 years of hard work, up’s and downs, disappointments and elation. But I am now convinced I made the right choices.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

I built my reputation by entering many regional and national Art Shows. Always concerned with submitting really novel paintings designed to evoke an intellectual as well as an emotional response, I began winning major awards. Awards begin to get me noticed by other professionals and my talent recognized by colleagues.
I am member of several local organizations as well as national and international ones.
I have given demonstrations, taught classes and written about my art.
All these efforts are my way of carving a niche for myself.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://fergusonfinearts.jimdofree.com/
• Instagram: Ref090
• Facebook: RichardFerguson

Image Credits

Paintings by Richard Ferguson