Cheryl Russell

Lives and works in Houston, TX, USA

Artist statement

At the core of my being, I am in love with humanity. But as is typical, it is a tempestuous relationship. I’m an activist, a lover of beautiful forms, a student of symbolism, and an observer of nuances. The human face, in particular, inspires me with all of the ways in which it can reflect our worlds, internal and external. Those faces reflect our dreams, fears, hopes, and love. They reveal both the best that we can be along with the demons from which we hide. I was given my first camera at age 7 and I quickly discovered the joy of creating. My journey in art has taken me into photography, ceramics, sculpture, digital design, drawing and painting. For the past 25+ years I’ve made my living as a graphic and web designer but painting is central to my fine art practice. The studio is my refuge and my addiction; the place where I return for the sheer thrill of seeing “life” happen within the paint. Working mostly in oils on canvas, I commonly challenge the typical boundaries of scale, pushing right to the edge of the canvas and beyond. I get excited exploring the curves, edges, similarities and the extraordinary differences between the human form and all other forms in the natural world. I use a range of techniques to enhance the overall experience with the subject, like exploiting the textural qualities of impasto marks that reveal an even deeper sense of topography across the surface. Each landscape, whether a face, body, or forest, carries a story… Stories of life: love,...

Artwork