Richard Loud (b. 1942) was born and raised in the Adams Section of Quincy Bay in Massachusetts.  He cannot remember a time when his life did not revolve around boats.  The son of a master shipwright who built boats for profit and pleasure, Richard was exposed early on to the complexities and beauty of boat design and construction. This early training and passionate love for sailing vessels is evident in his paintings today.  His work combines a thorough understanding of a wide variety of vessel types and sea conditions, with a uniquely artistic feeling for light and atmosphere.

After working his way through Northwestern University as a draftsman for the Penn Central Railroad, he served as deckhand on a 114 foot motor yacht, and later assisted his father designing and building yachts.  Yet, all this time he was constantly drawing and painting the vessels around him.

His dramatic paintings have earned him awards in the 1988, 1989, 1990 and 1994 Mystic International Exhibitions as well as a special mention in the December, 1990 Yachting Magazine. In 1991, he was commissioned to paint the H. M. S. Rose.  The painting was displayed on board the vessel during the Eastern Seaboard Tour of the Bill of Rights, and became part of the permanent collection of the H. M. S. Rose Foundation in Bridgeport, CT.  Billionaire William Koch recently purchased a Loud painting and donated it to the Smithsonian Institution.  The Texas Maritime Museum purchased two of his paintings and they are represented in the permanent collection in the museum.

His paintings of clipper ships and traditional sailing yachts express a sailors deep affection for the crafts, the brisk afternoons and gentle breezes in a way that everyone who has spent time at sea, or wishes they had, can relate to.

Mr. Loud is Managing Fellow of the American Society of Marine Artists. He can be reached through his website at www.maritimeartstudio.com.