Richard Salgado is a man who gravitated to art to express his spiritual emotions, family culture and intense passion for the environment-the animals, people and places within it.

  Richard was born and raised in Chino, California as a native Cahuilla. When he was old enough to pick up a shovel, his father influenced his plastering talents. He was a plasterer by trade for over twenty years. However, his mother was the inspiration for his artistic abilities. As the fourth child of seven, Richard remembers learning how to make masa with his mother in the kitchen. The infusion from making and mixing mud with his father and preparing the corn to make masa, is such a fascinating parallel that ties together Richard's life and family history with his desire for creating art from his mind and outwardly through his hands.

  His grandparents and both sides of his family played an integral part of building a new Catholic church in Chino, which has stood proud since 1902. While he was a young boy he watched his father help plaster the church walls, while his mother facilitated with the design and creation of the artwork on the inside. Church was a very important part of his early years, not only for the reason of what his family's religious beliefs were, but also to support once again how art influenced the path he was to take as a young adult.

  After graduating from Chino high school, Richard was awarded a scholarship to the Hollywood Institute of Art & Design for two years. He then studied for another two years at the Chapman College Art Institute where he met a professor, mentor and special friend that has inspired his art pieces today. The plethora of childhood stories, as well as the college education Richard attained, enables him to share his talents throughout the desert community of Rancho Mirage, where Richard moved to 11 years ago as a refuge from the "big city", and still resides in capturing the true exquisiteness of "old world" Italian fresco's using Rialto plaster finishes. Last year, one of Rialto's technical representatives, Massimo Lo Cascio, took a trip out to the desert as a guest of Vero to view Richard's work as well as share and educate him on the use of the products. To his amazement, Massimo was completely impressed. His interpretation of "fresco" is identical to what the Italian's have been replicating for several generations. The following pictures of a fresco Richard recently finished in La Quinta, define the "perfection of grandeur." Richard has said, "Vero-Rialto products used on his fresco help him to create such beauty." However, to truly grasp the vibrant pigments and artistic elements on a blank cement surface, can only come from the soul. The products may promote the artist, but it is only the artists' vision that can emulate the wisdom taught, along with the natural gift that comes from deep inside oneself, which no one can take away. "All my life I have been fueled with an inner vision of the infinite forms and expressions of our great Earth and Sky. Nature guides my heart and my hand, that all might see her infinite beauty and wisdom." These very words Richard Salgado has expressed, are proven day in and day out in his work. We should all be so fortunate to view his masterpieces.

  For more information on Richard's work, please click on the Contact Us page. We will be glad to answer any questions.