Russell Smith
BoldBrush Recommends: Russell Smith
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BoldBrush Recommends: Russell Smith
Biography
Russell's love of art was evident at a young age. As a child he could usually be found sketching pictures of Snoopy, Garfield, or some type of airplane rather than doing his schoolwork Those around him noticed his creativity and aptitude for drawing, and what began as a natural impulse eventually led to a degree in art from Augusta State University. While he was there, Russell was introduced to the work of historical artist Robert Taylor, and he knew that he had found his dream job.
Following college, Russell spent 10 years in the printing industry as a graphic artist while working late into the evenings on his artwork. It was during this period of his life that Russell also began to travel more, and in doing so, a new love was born as he was was exposed to the grandeur and beauty of the American West. Russell decided to make the transition from part-time artist to full-time artist in 2001. He now works out of his home studio in North Carolina where he lives with his wife Susan and their two children.
An Artist Fellow and past president of the American Society of Aviation Artists, Russell's work can be found in many collections, both public and private, around the world, including the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum and the Omaka Aviation Heritage Center in New Zealand. He has been recognized by a variety of publications including Art of the West, Fine Art Connoisseur, Aviation History, Flight Journal, and several overseas publications. Russell has been the recipient of numerous awards and honors including, most notably, the "James V Roy" Best of Show Award in the 2007, 2010 and 2013 American Society of Aviation Artists annual juried exhibitions. In addition, his work has won awards in many other national and international exhibitions such as the Simuflite/Flying Magazine Horizons of Flight Art Exhibition and the EAA Sport Aviation Art competition. Russell has also been commissioned to design and paint book covers for several history books.
Artist's Statement
My work alternates between studies of early aviation to stories of the old west. The duality of my subject matter may seem confusing to some, but for me the two subjects compliment each other nicely. Aviation subjects allow me to create dynamic compositions with geometric forms and lines, while western subjects offer me a chance to work with more organic forms and a broader palette of visual textures.
In addition to my role as artist I am also a storyteller, and it is the stories that are the common thread with my work. Regardless of whether it is the character etched in a cowboy's face or a tale of heroism and bravery on the Western Front, I love to engage the viewer with stories of humanity under extreme conditions. I also enjoy the challenge of creating historical narratives that are also works of fine art. While doing so I try to strike a fine balance in my work between technical, visual, emotional and, when applicable, historical accuracy. By balancing all of these elements I can provide the necessary information to fully describe a place or an event, while at the same time infusing a painting with the life, emotion and experience necessary to give the viewer a more visceral experience.
Most of my aviation subjects come from the period of World War One, and my work is a study of men and machinery during that terrible period. Placed against the brutal backdrop of the war, stories of deep courage, compassion and sacrifice seem all the more profound and dramatic. I am intrigued by the juxtaposition of styles from World War One - the old "classical" war and the new "modern" war.
In contrast, western art offers me the opportunity to explore the characters and stories of people who were shaped, and sometimes pitted against their environment. I enjoy exploring the mythology of the old west and I see parallels between the lone cowboy or outlaw and the artist forging his own destiny with his artwork. With western art I can combine three genres - landscape, portraiture and wildlife - under one umbrella to help narrate the story of the American west as it evolved over 2 centuries.
A majority of my work is created in oils, and I find that I best express myself using the techniques of the Classical Realists. I prefer this methodical, step-by-step approach because it allows me time to give thoughtful consideration to each painting. However, in order to further evoke a visceral experience with my paintings, I also try to take my work outdoors and paint plein-air whenever possible. I find that the addition of the plein-air study to the classical technique helps me to combine the intellectual nature of one with the emotional nature of the other and lends a spontaneous sense of place, which is difficult to simulate when working exclusively in a studio.
- Russell Smith
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