At the early age of 7, Richard became inspired after receiving a plaster casting hobby kit from a relative. Displaying his creative talent making plaster Cowboys and Indians from rubber molds, he continued his ambition by making his own molds of his own sculptures at the age of 12. From Poughkeepise, New York, Richard moved to New York City at the age of 18. Taking on various jobs; hanging paintings at a gallery on West 57th Street, creating showroom displays for DuPont, window displays on Fifth Avenue, Allied Chemical trade shows, and stage work for the New York Fashion Group. After returning to New York City from art school in Madrid, Spain in 1965, Richard began creating a series of commercial life castings, mostly of hands in addition to a line of planters and lamps.