In the early 90s it really took off. After working in the profession for roughly a quarter of a century, he has constructed quite a resume for himself.

Ferguson’s impressive list of past and current employers includes Hasbro, Wizards of the Coast, White Wolf Games, Stormfront Studios, Caliber Press and both Marvel and DC Comics. In addition, the self educated artist created pinups in the late 80s of Conan the Barbarian, and has done conceptual work for a number of video games.

Ferguson, 44, grew up in Middle Grove. Over the years he’s lived in San Francisco, Los Angeles and New York City, but he said he keeps coming back to Saratoga Springs.

“It’s a great place to work and to raise a family,” said the father of three. “There’s a lot of things to do. I love the Northeast and especially the Adirondacks. It’s a wonderful area.”

A small collection of Ferguson’s recent work in oil and acrylic is currently on display at the 70 Beekman Street Gallery. The solo exhibit, which features approximately 12 of his experimental, environmentally-themed pieces, began in August and runs through Oct. 8.

Ferguson said a terrific turnout of friends, family, locals and collectors attended the gallery’s opening night. Since then, he’s received a great deal of positive feedback about the pieces.

“This was a spur of the moment type thing,” Ferguson said. “It’s been terrific. It’s nice to have some pieces in my home town.”

With so many talented, creative people in the area Ferguson said it’s great to see outlets for individual artists. Beekman Street’s galleries in particular have impressed him, and he said they’re definitely worth checking out.

N.C. Wyeth, Maxfield Parrish, Barry Windsor-Smith, Hal Foster and Jim Steranko are some of Ferguson’s favorite artists and biggest influences. Although he doesn’t favor any specific medium, his most common subjects are nature and women.

“I’ve always had an organic take on things,” he said. “I think everybody can identify to nature.”

Aside from the local gallery, Ferguson’s work can also be seen in the September 2007 issue of the adult fantasy art magazine Heavy Metal. Approximately 48 pages of this month’s edition are dedicated to a preview of his new graphic novel, The Golden Age.

The Golden Age is the epic tale of an early civilization of men that follows the adventures of the story’s protagonist, Xell. Ferguson wrote and illustrated the graphic novel, and was elated to create his own fantasy world with its own mythology.

“I developed The Golden Age around 2001, but I’ve had a variation of the plot since I was about 12. It contains many of the ongoing themes in my work,” he said. “I’m really psyched about this.”

Ferguson anticipates the hardbound graphic novel will be released in the summer of 2008. He’s working on a follow up to The Golden Age and said he pictures it as at least a trilogy.

For more information about the artist or his work, visit www.myspace.com/richardkaneferguson. Ferguson expects his Web site, www.r.kaneproductions.com, will be up within the next month.