Life for Richard Hutchins hasn't been easy. Originally from Atlanta, Georgia, he grew up in Techwood Homes, one of the first federal public housing projects in the United States, before moving to Los Angeles.

 

In LA, he eventually found an art studio where he could act on a passion for painting he'd had since the age of 6. But he struggled there too, later landing in a Los Angeles County jail.

 

While in prison, Hutchins spent his days painting portraits on envelopes, experimenting with what was available to him -- toothpaste, Kool-Aid and the colored dye coating of Skittles and M&Ms -- and using a paintbrush made from his plucked beard hairs.

 

By the time he was released, Hutchins had lost his studio to a fire and he became homeless. He walked the streets and lived on beaches before ending up in homeless shelters...read more