When it comes to the business side of the studio, what pleases Lucie, the studio’s director and Richard’s lifelong partner, more than anything is talking with people who are interested in learning about his photographs. Though we consider anyone who purchases a print to be a “collector” —including the many corporations and institutions that own Richard Johnson’s work— a significant percentage of our collectors are brand new to buying art. And we love that.
The wide appeal of Richard’s photography is rooted in its celebration of modest structures in the Canadian landscape, and Lucie has countless stories of people who connected immediately with an image’s colours or its representation of winter or the documentation of a specific place —or with all of those aspects.
Prints of Richard’s photographs are very often purchased as gifts. One collector bought an Ice Hut for a relative who had moved overseas, knowing that the iconic Canadian winter landscape would provide a comforting connection to home. Another collector gave a gift certificate from the studio as a wedding gift with the message: Choose the image you like best!
Whatever the reason for considering the purchase of a print, Lucie delights in suggesting images to consider, and the studio can even provide a realistic “mock up” of the framed print in the intended space. We do this because Lucie understands both the significance of the financial investment and that the collector will be living with the image for a long time, so it’s important to be certain the image speaks to you. She understands the need for time to consider the options, and to be certain the selected photograph is one you truly love.