Early mentoring for Richard was by oil painter Otis O. Lumpkin. He received a B.S. in Fine Arts from East Texas State University where he also taught intaglio printmaking as a graduate assistant. In his senior year, he won the print division of the student show, and had an oil painting, "Until Then", in a major exhibit at the Dallas Museum of Fine Arts. This painting was purchased by collector, Robert Butler, while at the museum, and is part of the Butler private collection today. Richard's paintings and etchings are in private collections throughout the United States.