B.B. Rich

Artist & Illustrator

About the Artist

B.B. Rich is a Tennessee-based artist whose work focuses on female portraits and figures combined with positive themes such as calmness, confidence, and strength. He likes elegant simplicity and boldness, creating artwork that leaps out to meet the eyes.His work is on display at:Trellis & Vine Gallery
27 S Lowry St.
Smyrna, TN 37167Phone: (615) 768 - 9503
Email: [email protected]Open Wed-Sat, 10:00 AM - 6:30 PMClick below to buy art from Trellis & Vine's online store, powered by Shopify, or contact B.B. Rich directly.

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On this page, you'll find B.B. Rich's art blog. There are posts about all kinds of topics related to Art: The Inspiration behind the work, guides to Art Appreciation and Collecting, advice for fellow artists, and more. I tend to write long form, for people who really like to settle in, get comfortable, and take their time enjoying a good read. Click a post below to get started.

Enjoying & Collecting Art for Absolute BeginnersAre you someone who's interested in art, but you don't know where to begin? Have you ever visited an art gallery before? If you have, then hopefully your first experience with it was better than mine.My first time walking into an art gallery, I remember feeling kind of lost. I knew that I was interested in art, but I didn't know where to start. I loved looking at all the art in the gallery, but it was also intimidating. The atmosphere was oppressively quiet, which made it really uncomfortable. It was impossible to relax or talk normally. I was curious about some of the artists whose work I saw in the gallery, but no one would really explain anything about who they were or how I could find out more. In fact, the gallery owner didn't seem to want to talk to me at all.The art was so expensive, and I didn't understand why. And they definitely weren't going to talk to me about that! In fact, I got a very strong impression that it was already over from the moment I walked in. They looked over me once and immediately filed me away under the "You Can't Afford Us" category, then pretty much ignored me from that point on.The final straw was that, because it was so absolutely tomb quiet in there, I could very clearly overhear the owner muttering to his employee: "We've gotta get this guy out of here. He's not buying anything, he's just... hanging around." Yes... I was "hanging around"... looking at art... in an art gallery. Somehow, I was made to feel like that was wrong. Needless to say, I was done with that mess; I walked out and never stepped foot in there again. It would be months before I visited another art gallery.That was my first experience with an art gallery, and unfortunately, it's not all that uncommon. Thankfully, over the years, I've had many more positive experiences with art galleries. Part of the reason I wrote this post is so that people can be informed and comfortable approaching art for the first time.So, we're going to go over a few simple concepts that will help start you on your way to understanding and enjoying art.First, what is Art? This is a question that could really get caught up in a lot of philosophical debate, but we're going to keep our definition very simple. For our purposes, we'll define "art" this way: Art is an image or object crafted by human hands for the main purposes of expression, illustration, or beauty. Art isn't just found in galleries and museums; it's really all around us in various forms. The designs we see in the natural world, the buildings we live and work in, the vehicles we drive, the clothes we wear. Almost everything we see and use in our daily life had an artist involved in its creation at some point in the process. That's part of the reason why art is valuable and important.So, what is an Artist? Simply put, an artist is a person who creates art. There are lots of different ways that artists create, and lots of reasons why they create. For some, it's simply a hobby that they do in their spare time, for personal fulfilment. Others create art professionally and make it their main line of work. Many people do a little of both, making art as a hobby and selling it for a little side income.There are other reasons why people create as well. For some, it's just fun. They see something they like, and they want to draw, paint, or sculpt it. Just that simple. Others aren't so concerned about what they draw or paint, they just love the act of creating art in and of itself. And some are driven by a passion, a particular vision, or even a need to express something. Every one of these reasons is valid, and that's part of the reason why art is so varied and diverse.Next, what is an Art Gallery? While art museums mainly display art for educational and historical purposes, an art gallery is, in the simplest terms, a shop where art is displayed and sold. Galleries provide a space for artists to show their work and a storefront to help them earn income from it. The best galleries are also a place for the local art community to thrive, supporting local artists and bringing access to art to the people of the larger community. Galleries are a place where artists and art enjoyers can connect.If you've been to a gallery or spent much time around artists, you've probably heard them using terms that seem strange out of context. We're going to go through a few of these terms to take some of the confusion out of art for beginning appreciators and collectors.First, we'll define the "subject." Simply put, the subject is what the artwork is about. It's the basic thing that the art is depicting. Whether it's a picture of a person, a place, a thing, or even splashes of color, that is the subject.Secondly, there's the "medium" (or "media" if there's more than one). The medium is the tools and materials used to make the art. Is it a pencil drawing or pen drawing, an oil, acrylic, or watercolor painting, a clay sculpture, or something else? Whatever it's made of, that's the medium. If a piece of art is made using a combination of different tools and materials, it might be called a "mixed media" piece. (My drawings, for example, are a mix of ink, color pencil, markers, and occasionally digital tools.)Thirdly, there are "originals" and "prints." The original is the piece made directly by the artist's hands, the first one before any copies are made. These are the highest valued pieces because there's only one original. A print is a reproduction of that original piece. Prints are made for a number of reasons, such as allowing more people to enjoy the art at a less expensive price. Artists might also make prints so they can keep a copy of their work after the original piece sells.Fourthly, when looking at prints, you may see terms like "limited edition" or "open edition." These are simple to understand: A Limited Edition print means that only a limited number of copies will be made. For example, if a print has a limited edition of 100, then only 100 will be made. Each one will be numbered 1 through 100, and once they're done, that's it. This is done mainly to increase the value of prints for collectors, while still keeping the price much lower than an original piece.On the other hand, an "open edition" means that an unlimited number of copies can be printed. These are the least expensive kinds of prints, and they're used by artists who want to get the artwork into as many people's hands as possible at a low price. For art collectors, Open Edition prints are a great way to get started with collecting art on a budget. (All of my art prints, for example, are open edition.)Next, you might hear the term "Archival Quality." This might seem a little strange out of context, but it's really easy to understand. "Archival" simply means that a piece of art is built to last. It's made using quality materials that will not easily degrade over time. It's a good thing to look for if you want the art in your collection to last a really long time for your enjoyment.Finally, there's matting and framing. Framing, of course, is simple enough. It's simply putting something in a frame. It makes a piece of art feel more "complete," and in practical terms, it gives you a way to actually hang it up on your wall.Matting is often just as important as framing, but is sometimes overlooked. It's especially important if the art is framed behind glass. The "mat" is a border around the edges of the art that serves at least three purposes. First, it adds a touch of refinement and professionalism to the art, even enhancing the art visually. Secondly, it enlarges the art, increasing its value and allowing it to fit in standard frame sizes. (This can save you a lot of money since you won't need expensive custom framing.) And thirdly, it protects the artwork itself from being damaged by rubbing against the inside of the glass frame.All these things we've discussed so far can help to understand how art is priced. There are no hard-and-fast rules for pricing art, and every artist does it a little differently. Some use an hourly wage, for example, while others price according to size, and some have highly complex formulas or purely subjective ways of pricing.Still, there are a few general principles that will apply almost universally. Originals are priced the highest, Limited Edition prints second, and open edition prints (or other things that allow infinite copies, like merch) are priced the lowest. Generally, the larger a piece of art is, the higher its price, while conversely, small pieces may be priced much lower. Because of the benefits that matting & framing provide, and the work and expense involved in doing so, matted & framed pieces are priced considerably higher than unframed art.When we look at the combination of factors, it's easier to understand art pricing. For example, a large-sized, Original art piece, matted & framed, is a highly premium item, while a very small, unframed print is a budget-friendly option. Most artists provide a mix of both.So, why is art so valuable to us? There are lots of reasons, but here are just a few: It appeals to our natural, inborn attraction to beauty. It gives us a powerful and personal way of expressing ourselves and our ideas. That doesn't just apply to artists, but also to everyone who enjoys art. Your art collection is as much of a personal expression for you as the art is for the artist. Art allows us to share ideas in a way that goes beyond words, and we can even build a community around it, as artists and art collectors have done for centuries. No doubt you'll come up with your own special reasons that make art valuable for you.I hope this little beginner talk has helped take away some of the mystery, confusion, and intimidation of getting started with art. With everything you've learned, you're ready to go on and enjoy art! If you're in the Middle Tennessee area, the Trellis & Vine Gallery in Smyrna, TN is a great place to start. Not only is it filled with beautiful art, but you'll also be supporting local artists and the community. None of this is possible without you and others like you, so thank you for being here.- B.B. Rich

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Embracing the Beauty of ImperfectionsUpon Reflection and Pleasant Fragrance can be considered a set. Both of them were created with a similar idea in mind. As a self-taught artist with no formal training, I am very conscious of all the ways that my artwork is different from others' art. This, combined with the use of pen & ink, which requires an extreme level of precision, can trigger an awful sense of perfectionism and pressure. It can be almost paralyzing.When I created these two pieces, I decided to try an experiment. Instead of spending time doing preliminary sketches and measuring to get "perfect" lines and proportions, I would just... draw. Literally, I would just pick up my pen, draw directly in ink, and accept the result. No sketching or measuring, and no ability to erase, combined with my own personal style, gave these drawings an almost abstract quality. There were all sorts of "mistakes" in the proportions, lines, and everything, but somehow it was still aesthetically beautiful. The parts that I would normally think of as "wrong" ended up giving these drawings life and character.It was a good reminder to me that beauty doesn't necessarily come from getting everything "perfect." That kind of perfection is impossible for us human beings anyway. Instead, it really seems to come from embracing all the little irregularities and imperfections. Somehow, they all come together to create a whole that's uniquely beautiful. In the end, it also makes me far less self-conscious about the little quirks of my self-taught style.I hope the message about avoiding the trap of perfectionism resonates with you as strongly as it did with me. Either of these drawings, or both, could help remind you to embrace the things about yourself that are less-than-perfect. And, perhaps, they could help you to see yourself more positively and appreciate your own uniqueness as a person.- B.B. Rich

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Supporting the Artist in Your LifeDo you know someone who wants to be a professional artist and is working really hard but struggling to earn income from their work? Lots of people do know someone like that. Being an artist is hard work, both in terms of the craft and (especially) on the business side of things. It's not impossible, though. Sometimes they just need a little support, like anyone else.Artists get a lot of advice from well-meaning people, but sadly not all of it is really useful or helpful. For example, much of the advice that struggling artists receive basically boils down to "Stop being an artist and do something else." Or, sometimes they may be told to stop trying to sell their art and create only "for the love of it." This unfortunately sends the message of "Your work has no value, so you should do it for free" - even if it's not remotely intended that way. This wouldn't be helpful advice in any line of work, the art profession included.So if those things are unhelpful, then what is helpful? Here are a few possibilities. If you know someone who's an artist, see if any of these work for you:1. Help them sell their art! This is the first and clearest way to help an artist. Tell your friends, family, and acquaintances about the artist and their work. No need to try to be a salesperson; just put the word out there a little bit. You never know who might love their work and turn into an interested collector.2. Keep an eye out for opportunities for artists, and let the artist know when you hear of something. Make sure to tell them if you hear about art and craft fairs, art crawls, galleries looking for artists to exhibit, and other things that might benefit them. These things can be great ways for them to earn income from their work.3. Encourage them when they're down. Artists face intense pressure from both external sources and from within. The pressure to make money, the pressure to be "perfect" at their craft (even though this is impossible), the pressure to be competitive with other artists (even though this serves no purpose), and their own inner critic and self-doubt. It's a lot. It can become so crushing that the artist feels like giving up. If you can be there for them at times like this and give them a little encouragement, this is immensely helpful.These are just a few little ways that a person can help an artist without discouraging them. Doing these things is not only practical, but also deeply meaningful. If you're willing to do things like this, you show the artist in your life that you really are on their side. You show them that you really do want them to succeed. It could be just the nudge they need to reach their goals. It could also be just what they need to help them endure the inevitable trials of being an artist and hold on until things get better.- B.B. Rich

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A Softer Kind of StrengthWhen you think of the word "strong," what kinds of things usually come to mind? It's easy to picture someone hitting the gym, lifting weights, or maybe a huge, powerful animal; phrases like "strong as an ox" might come to mind. When I drew this, though, I wanted to portray strength in a different way.There is a kind of strength that manifests itself in less obvious ways than muscle and raw physical power. Gentle Strength shows a woman who is demonstrating, by her calmness, dignity, and poise, that she's strong. The fullness of her figure gives her a sense of solidity and substance as well. She demonstrates her strength in a way that's uniquely feminine.In some ways, she reminds me of some of the women in my life as I was growing up. Many of them had this kind of calm, dignified strength about them. It had an effect on me too, as I still admire this trait in people to this day, and try to cultivate it myself.I hope you can relate to this piece, and that you can find your own unique strength and value it.- B.B. Rich

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