Color is at the heart of Dick’s work—and at the heart of how he experiences the world. Diagnosed with dyslexia at the age of nine, Dick learned early that he processed information differently from the “norm.” Rather than learning through books, he learned through sight, sound, smell, touch, and motion. Give him a paintbrush instead of a textbook, and everything comes alive. What he once jokingly called his “Dickslexia,” he now embraces as a gift: an instinctive ability to see, feel, and respond to color, texture, and movement in a deeply personal way.

Painting is both expression and refuge. The smell of oil paint is intoxicating, the act of painting a form of meditation. Dick approaches art by exposing his eyes to a subject and allowing his brain—and senses—to lead the way. What matters most is not interpretation or approval, but honesty. If the work makes him happy, it has done its job. Art, after all, belongs first to the artist; what the world thinks of it is secondary, absorbed later through reflection and dialogue.

Dick is as memorable a personality as he is an artist. If you have met him, you understand—and chances are, you probably have. He has a way of making instant connections, often discovering a shared acquaintance within minutes. He is the owner of the men’s boutique Peter-Blair in Richmond, as well as Peter-Blair Accessories, carried in more than 250 stores worldwide. Together with his wife, he also owns a home in Rockbridge Co., Virginia, with sweeping views of Jump Mountain. They spend as much time there as possible, and much of Dick’s work is inspired by the landscapes and light of Rockbridge County.