Daniel Richter's Paintings

I went to see Daniel Richters paintings at Regen Projects.  He is an artist I have grown to like more and more. I think I saw a reproduction of his work about five years ago and have always been curious to see his work in person. I did like the show but while I was looking at his painting up close I couldn't help but feel there was a degree of production perhaps something even mannered in the work.  This is something I think about a bit.  It's not something that I am sure about but I can't help but feel a certain touch enters the work and begins to become a liability for the artist and something they need to get around to avoid that produced feeling the work can have.  It almost as though the work lacks it's own necessity and so certain effects and techniques begin to seem like they have been added in without real reason. Or maybe it just seems too crafted for my taste.  I feel like that happens with a lot of older artists with established styles and interests.  It's hard to tell with Richter though because I have never seen his earlier work in person and all those effects and techniques are such an integral part of the work.  He is definitely an artist I have found interesting and it was pretty cool to see his paintings.  I think I like their garishness and volume and I really like they way they are composed and drawn especially in contrast to Pete Doig who favors a more planned and choreographed kind of painting.  You can see more at  www.regenprojects.com/current/