Artist Richard Mortemore donates paintings to HMC

On Oct. 4, Big Island artist Richard Mortemore donated a collection of his paintings to Hilo Medical Center’s Outpatient Clinics and Imaging Department.

Mortemore explained that he started rotating his paintings around doctors’ offices in Hilo when his first wife was diagnosed with cancer.

“We spent a lot of time in waiting rooms staring at blank walls, and I said, ‘What are we going to do about this?’” recalled Mortemore. “Now we have about 100 paintings rotating around town.”

“We are pleased to announce that we will be displaying Mr. Mortemore’s artwork permanently at our Pediatric Clinic and Hawaii Island Family Health Center,” said Boyd Murayama, assistant hospital administrator and medical group practice director at HMC.

“Mr. Mortemore’s generosity is tremendous,” said Lori Rogers, executive director of the HMC Foundation. “His donation is not only priceless in monetary value; it’s priceless in the amount of comfort and happiness it brings to patients and families.”

According to Mortemore’s website, www.laupahoehoegraphics.com, he has been painting wildlife for over 40 years. His abiding interest in the environment has prompted him to write and illustrate articles on wildlife for national publications, publish a series of nature guides on Hawaiian wildlife, to become the director of Keakealani Outdoor Education Center and to become the director of the Panaewa Rainforest Zoo.

He has received a State of Hawaii Conservation Award for his work in Environmental Education for the children of Hawaii. In his paintings, the care he takes to place birds and animals in their natural habitat has brought his work to the attention of publications such as Wildlife Art News. His paintings are in private collections in 28 states and England.