"Art is light and color, not subject and matter," he said. "If art does not fulfill the purpose of uplifting the viewer, it loses its original purpose." Richardson explained his philosophy of what motivates him to paint. He talked as a true student of the famous Dutch painter Rembrandt, who first used light so skillfully on his subjects. He believes that he can't impose his version of his paintings on each viewer; that responsibility is up to the individual.

"Art is not about commerce or reproduction of works. It is a form of magic whose intent is to uplift the spirit," he said. To capture this magic, Richardson changes his style according to the mood of the season. This gives him a time limit in which he has to paint. He especially loves the red tree that blooms in the summer on the island. "You can't avoid it," he said.

He uses varying techniques to do his work. Watercolors, charcoal, wax and powder, oil, dry point, etching, woodcuts, silk screens and silver point. Silver point was a process used before paper and pens were available. He likes to try such older methods to be different once in awhile.

Richardson paints the subjects that he sees, but the physical aspect is not as important as one might think. "Light is the real subject. Color is the means by which I represent the subject," he said.

With 30 years painting experience, he has participated in exhibitions in not only St. Martin and throughout the Caribbean, but also in France, Holland, Lebanon, the United States, Belgium, Bulgaria and Russia.

Richardson resides in French St. Martin with his wife Laura and 2-year-old daughter Radiance.