Richard T. Powell is a big man of mild mien with a banker’s name. But that’s just a trick of the eye.
And as I sat with him at his slick black computer work station, he described another optical illusion of his creation. That of two columns flanking a trash-fashion runway. The context was NIMBASH, the (in)famous annual art party that raises funds for Napa community arts org Nimbus.
Across the 10 minute trash runway, the illuminated stone columns gave the appearance of slowly, almost imperceptibly, degrading—cracking, flaking, to expose a glittering metallic under-layer which began to spin—slowly at first, and then faster and faster until blinding at the timed climax of the fashion show.
According to tipsy guests, the illusion was entirely convincing. It was achieved by projection mapping (shape-tailored projection) of Powell’s 3-D digital art onto a column.
As we talked, Powell pulled more random items from his project portfolio. And as he spun out his yarns, this mild-mannered man gave forth a new impression—that of a slowly revolving galaxy of ideas—some realized, some burning to burst forth. Simply put, Richard T. Powell is one of the most potentiated artists I have met in our locality. That is the impression I hope to put across with my slight 600 words legerdemain. Review his website for images: rtpowelldesign.com.
Cincinnatus Hibbard: What is an art director?
Richard T. Powell: Somebody that makes creative decisions. Manages expectations of how to achieve those. Hires and manages people with complementary skillsets. And gets that project vehicle to the end point.
What are your skillsets?
I studied intaglio print making [etching] at SRJC. But I also studied IT at Empire College.
So my skillset includes things like networking protocols, painting, drawing, building servers, server management, 3D animation, 3D art, graphic design and web design.
What’s your bread and butter work?
Web design—for small businesses.
Name another art project.
I made a six-minute animated music video on Blender for Samvega’s song, ‘Watermills.’ It’s on his YouTube. In it, I was inspired by vintage sci-fi. Think Flash Gordon oil-scape backdrops and the underworld, end time art of Zdzisław Beksiński.
It’s trippy a.f. And as beautiful as any Hollywood fx. What’s a third project?
Pre-pandemic, I was doing all of the show posters for The Mystic and Cornerstone—in Berkeley. Hundreds of posters over two years.
I love the poster you did for Spice World (see this week’s cover story).
I have been collaborating—with my neighbor, actually—on interactive projection mapping. An example I can give is that you project an image—like a galaxy on a wall—and if you step in front of it and wave your hands, you push the stars around.
What’s something unexpected about you?
I love to scuba-dive. It’s like being in space.
What would be a dream assignment ?
I would love to do special effects for a film—or music video—I think of the music videos collaborations of French dark synth wave artist Carpenter Brut. Probably a horror film. Horror is really the most experimental American commercial genre.
Learn more: Connect with Richard T. Powell on instagram @richardtpowell. It is a portfolio too. His website is rtpowelldesign.com. Tickets for NIMBASH 2026 are on sale now, from $250. The event is May 9 at Raymond Vineyards in St. Helena.
