Richard Hutchins

Painter

Birth Year 1959

Birthplace United States

#94136 Most Popular

About

Formerly homeless and incarcerated artist who became famous when his paintings were bought by celebrities including Oprah Winfrey and Steve Harvey. He is known for creating sketches on envelopes in jail which noted the days he had been behind bars. He was an artist in residence at Infinity Studio in Santa Monica. His work has also featured in galleries in Beverly Hills and Pasadena, California.

Before Fame

As a child, he spent every spare moment making art. At 15, he sold sculptures for $1,500. He moved to Los Angeles in 1992 and worked as a professional artist. He worked under the alias Drew Hill - a former NFL football player. 

Trivia

While in Los Angeles County Jail, he created art with coffee, toothpaste, candy and toilet paper. After two years in jail awaiting trial he was found not guilty and released in 2015. After he was released, he met Charlie "Rocket" Jabaley, 2 Chainz previous manager. He bought him art supplies, including canvasses, paints and brushes. 

Family Life

At the age of six, he worked in the Georgia cotton fields with his sister after school.

Associated With

While in jail, he mailed his finished artworks to friends, family and total strangers including several to Barack Obama.