THE ART OF THE HORSE

WORKSHOP SERIES

Meet Russell Smith, Oil Painter

Do you want to make your paintings more realistic?

Do you want to evoke emotion or an atmosphere but, not sure where to start?

The subtly of color and light will be explored in this workshop. Painting from life and bringing that information into the studio with Russell Smith as he shares his wealth of knowledge on these subjects and more.

Bio

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 notable collections around the world including the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum, the Omaka Aviation Heritage Center in New Zealand, and the personal collection of noted film director Sir Peter Jackson. He has been recognized by a variety of publications including Art of the West, Fine Art Connoisseur, Aviation History, and Flight Journal.

In addition, 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.

for more information on Russell Smith, visit russellsmithart.com or follow him on Instagram!

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

NOV 11-15, 2024

5-Day Intensive Workshop

Tryon International Equestrian Center

Mill Spring, North Carolina

Selected Exhibitions

- CM Russell Friday Night strike Auction, 2024

- Cheyenne Frontier Days Western Spirit Art Show and Sale, Cheyenne, WY 2018, 2022

- National Cowboy Museum Small Works, Great Wonders Art Sale, Oklahoma City, OK, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023

- Mountain Oyster Club Art Show and Sale, Tucson, AZ, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020

- Bitterroot Frames Montana Master Show and Sale, Great Falls, MT 2020

- Stampede Western Invitational Art Show and Sale, Greeley, CO, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022

- Bosque Art Classic, Clifton, TX 2018, 2019

- Bitterroot Frames Montana Miniatures Show and Sale, Great Falls, MT 2018, 2019

- Oil Painters of America Annual Exhibition, 2011, 2012, 2017

- Traveling the West Art Sale and Exhibition, Southwest Galleries, Dallas, TX, 2015

- American Society of Aviation Artists (ASAA) Annual Juried Exhibition: 1999 through 2019

- Art of the Skies Aviation Art exhibition, Art Center of Battle Creek, Battle Creek, MI, 2009

- Southern Wings II Aviation Art exhibition, Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum, Savannah, GA, 2007

- Original paintings on display at the Omaka Heritage Center, Blenheim, New Zealand

- Horizons of Flight at Simuflite Training Center: 1996, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2011, 2013

Selected Awards & Recognition

- Finalist, December 2018 BoldBrush Online Painting Competition

- Finalist, July 2018 BoldBrush Online Painting Competition

- 2018 Charlotte Mecklenburg Arts and Science Council Creative Renewal Fellow

- BoldBrush Award, January 2018 BoldBrush Online Painting Competition

- Dawn Patrol Rendezvous, Poster Artist, 2014

- "James V. Roy" Award (Best in Show), ASAA Annual Juried Exhibition, 2007,2010, 2012

- Award of Distinction (Second place), ASAA Annual Juried Exhibition, 2011, 2014, 2022

- Aviation Week and Space Technology, Second Place, Military Category, 2012

- Best in Show, Military Aviation Museum's Aviation History Through Art Juried Exhibition, 2011

- Aviation Week and Space Technology, Best of the Best, 2010

- Award of Merit , ASAA Annual Juried Exhibition, 2008

- Aviation Week and Space Technology, First Place, Military Category, 2007

- Boeing "Spirit of Flight" Award , ASAA Annual Juried Exhibition, 2007

- Honorable Mention, "Horizons of Flight" at Simuflite Training Center, 2007

- Award of Merit , ASAA Annual Juried Exhibition, 2005

- Honorable Mention, EAA Sport Aviation Art competition, 1999

NOV 11-15, 2024

5-Day Intensive Workshop

Tryon International Equestrian Center

Mill Spring, North Carolina

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