Richard Stauffacher

Richard Stauffacher was born in Russellville, Arkansas in January 1948.  His parents were missionaries and at 8 months of age he went to live in the Belgian Congo, which is now Zaire.  In 1958 his family spent a year in Florida then returned to the Congo.  They  remained there until they left as refugees during the political turmoil in 1960 when the country was granted independence.  Richard then moved to Kenya, where his father was born and raised, and stayed there until his graduation from high school in 1965. 

Upon graduation Richard traveled to the United States to continue his education at John Brown University in Arkansas.  Richard also spent several years in the Navy.   By May of 1975 Richard had completed his BS in Fine Art.  He continued studying at Arkansas Polytechnic College in Russellville and the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. 

Following graduation he moved to Fayetteville, Arkansas and for a period of about eleven years worked at developing a career in etching.  Richard spent countless hours in his studio mastering both the creative and the technical aspects of the art.  He also spent a substantial portion of his time in the hills, woods, rivers, and fields of Northwest Arkansas with his telescope, binoculars, camera and sketchbook procuring the raw material for his etchings.  It was during this period of time that Richard became associated with Island International Artists

In September of 1986 Richard moved to the state of Washington to become a part of the permanent staff at Island International Artists as Master Printer at their headquarters on Guemes Island.  Since that time he has been extensively involved with setting up Black Raven Press, one of the finest print shops on the West Coast.  Richard has also been working with numerous artists and printmakers to produce new images and issue them in editions of etchings.  The time spent developing etchings within the context of a major art organization, working with artists, and helping other etchers find technical solutions inevitably has taken time away from his own art career.  Richard views this as another growth phase to be followed by a return to a more active pursuit of his own work.