About the Artist

Richard C. DeSpain

Richard C. DeSpain is a well-known artist in Arkansas and surrounding states who is known for paying attention to detail. Growing up in Arkansas, Richard moved to Little Rock after a tour in the Army and started drawing homes in the Quapaw Quarter. The first home he drew was the Villa Marre (the home was shown in the opening credits of the TV show Designing Women).

Richard's specialty is his ability to capture the finest detail in his work. Often one will see a DeSpain print and think it is a photograph until closer inspection reveals hours upon hours of fine pen strokes that form a finished work of black and pen and ink.

A resident of North Little Rock, Richard lives with his wife, Gail, and their two sons. According to Richard, his family "puts up" with his passion for drawing, as there are always pieces of work in various stages of completion scattered about his art room (often spilling over into the hall and den). Upon being approached by the Reunion Committee seeking permission to use a previously completed DeSpain rendition of LRCHS on our website, Richard remembered an unfinished rendition of LRCHS he had tucked away. To honor our 50^th anniversary Richard completed the new rendition and dedicated it as a commemorative to the "Lost Class of 1959"

Richard DeSpain has been asked to join us during the Reunion and to make available copies of the commemorative version in various sizes. It is with sincere appreciation that we thank Richard for his efforts on our behalf.