Richard Burke grew up in central Oregon and the Flathead Valley of Northwest Montana. From early childhood he was absorbed with discovering and drawing everything in the natural world. Because Richard had several family members who explored falconry, some of his earliest memories include kestrels and red-tailed hawks. Richard was always captivated by birds of prey and the grace of flight. Likewise, the beauty, tranquility and drama of the mountains and forests have always drawn him.
Considered a self-taught artist, Richard’s formal education was in Religious Studies. He worked as a minister for almost two decades, but he continued painting, carving and sculpting in every available moment. For years Richard carved decoys for Ducks Unlimited and captured many bird species in wood sculpture. Eventually it became clear that his passion for art was deserving of a more prodigious effort. It was his desire to focus on sculpting wildlife and painting landscapes fulltime which pulled Richard away from all other pursuits. Currently, he is fully dedicated to the process of creating work in his studio in Douglas, Wyoming.
