Richard Hamilton began painting 15 years ago when he noticed a young neighbor painting outdoors. It looked like such fun, so he purchased his first materials and has been hooked ever since. Inspiration often strikes during conversation or listening to the radio. "Someone may say a certain phrase or lyric and in my head I will say 'That sounds like a painting!'" Richard paints to make connections with people, and loves to hear how his work makes others feel. He fondly remembers one collector remark that, out of the 400 artworks in his collection, his piece sparked the most conversation.