Charcoal drawing of a shadowed face with raised arms, above a small figure reaching upward, suggesting inner struggle and emotional tension.

Blood is Thicker Than Water
Richard Mitchell
VAST Senior Exhibition
April 16–27, 2-26
McLanahan Gallery
Misciagna Family Center for Performing Arts

Artist Bio

Richard Mitchell is a visual artist, athlete, and entrepreneur. He uses many different mediums such as digital art and black and white drawings. His current work explores themes of family, memory, and identity through large-scale charcoal drawings.

Mitchell was a member of the Penn State Altoona men’s basketball team. He will receive his undergraduate degree in visual art studies in May 2026. After graduating, he plans to merge his interest in artmaking with entrepreneurship and grow his creative business.

He currently lives in Altoona.

Artist Statement

Blood is Thicker Than Water is a body of work rooted in family, memory, and the emotions that shape who I am. Through personal memories, I portray moments from my life in a dream-like state, where images feel familiar yet distant, much like memories themselves. Dreams and memories are something we all have and what is something we keep close to our soul. Here is mine.

The material of charcoal allows me to create images that feel unstable and fleeting, echoing the way memories fade, blur, and resurface over time. The scale of the drawings invites the viewer into these moments, encouraging a sense of closeness or immersion.

This body of work is the statement of who I am and what I love, specifically family. Through memories I portray the idea of a dream-like state where I illustrate memories of my life. My drawings reflect the range of emotions tied to being human — joy, sorrow, confusion, longing — and how those emotions often come from our relationships and upbringing. By presenting memories as fleeting and layered, I explore how the past continues to surface, fade, and return over time.

While these works come from my own memories, they are more than just personal stories. They are a gate to my inner world, shaped by the family and experiences that continue to influence who I am.

Blood is Thicker Than Water.

Artwork Checklist

  • Living Proof, 2025
    Black and White Charcoal, 30’’x40”
  • ICarus, 2025
    Black and White Charcoal, 30’’x40”
  • Times Up, 2025
    Black and White Charcoal, 30’’x40”
  • Tree of Life, 2025
    Black and White Charcoal, 30’’x40”
  • Just Not Sure, 2025
    Black and White Charcoal, 30’’x40”
  • Framed, 2025
    Black and White Charcoal, 30’’x40”