Russ Flint - Sidewalk Cafe
Russ Flint – Gray Blue Nude
Russ’s one man show, “Running with the Giants” will be displayed through the month of August, and his work will be part of the permanent collection at
Northwoods Art Gallery.
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As a child, Artist Russ Flint kept getting into his grandmother’s closets and desk drawers…
So to keep young Russ out of mischief, his mother bought two a drawing books for him, "How to Draw the Human Figure” and “Drawing Like the Great Masters." Those books were to begin Russ’ lifelong love and obsession with drawing and the human form and studying great,classic artists of history.
The Northwoods Art Gallery will be home to Russ’s One Man Show, “Running with The Giants”, with a meet the artist reception on Friday, August 8, 2008 from 5:00 to 8:00pm.
“I was first introduced to Russ’s work over two years ago, during Art Around the Lake and I was enchanted with his use of color, texture and the movement he creates with his figurative work.” Said Heather Long, owner of the Northwoods Art Gallery.
“Russ has such a wide range of styles and mediums that he uses, that his depiction of the human form or renderings of local architecture seem to move and dance on the hardboard, canvas or watercolor paper. Russell’s work is very reminiscent of the depression era murals and work done by the WPA Artists. His depiction of everyday activities are vibrant and classic in nature.” Continued Long.
In Russ’s junior and senior year of high school, he received two Summer scholarships to attend special classes at Art Center College of Design in Los Angeles, which furthered his lifelong affair with his muse.
As a young man, Russ served in the Air Force as a medic and studied art in his off-duty hours in the Medical Corps. He signed up for a "Famous Artists Correspondence Course" and turned his barracks room into a small studio. Russ hid all the paintings, drawings and easels before every weekly room inspection.
One day the company commander did a surprise inspection. He walked into Russ’s room and turned around and walked out shaking his head in unbelief.
The base medical unit had a human skeleton in the x-ray department, Russ drew studies of the skeleton on his off-duty hours, memorizing every bone.
After the military, Russ returned to Art Center. There he leaned to analyze the great master painters and draftsmen especially those of the Renaissance completing his life-long desire, you might say, he learning to "run with the giants." of art history
After his wife, Cheryl, and Russ married, they were blessed with four beautiful children. They sold their home and packed everything in a large trailer not knowing to where they would relocate.
Russ, even as a newlywed and young father continued to keep his longtime mistress, ART, close by. Russell pulled a 4x5 utility trailer converted into a traveling studio, and he supported his family by illustrating children's books as they headed north.
Russ and his family discovered Plumas County and built their home here and Russ continued doing children's book illustrations, but his focus was always on fine art drawing and painting.
Realism in painting doesn't interest Russ, design, composition, movement and color are more important to him, as the finished product shows. The work of the great masters of the past still inspire him most. And he still loves running with the giants.
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Please join us this Friday night for 2nd Friday's, featuring New Pieces by Lake Almanor's own, Robbie Laird.
Please click here for our show catalogue, which has the show prices for these magnificent new works.With every purchase of one of these pieces, you will receive a complimentary "Mt. Lassen in Springtime" Limited Edition Print, by Robbie Laird.
We hope that you can join us from 5:00pm to 8:00pm, Friday, July 11, 2008, and as always, refreshments will be served.
Robbie Laird, a full time resident of Lake Almanor, CA, and part time resident of Hilton Head Island, SC; is an innovative painter, teacher, and juror. Her paintings captivate the viewer with an exciting balance of flowing ambiguity and varying amounts of specific detail. Robbie will be the Featured Artist at Northwood’s Second Friday’s event. |
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“Robbie’s new works are all large, vibrant, and capture the magnificence of Lassen. Created with watercolor, the fluidity of the volcanic landscape comes to life.” Said Heather Long, Owner of the Northwoods Art Gallery.
Using large brushes and flowing paint, her work dances on the edge of abstraction in areas but pulls you back in others. She sometimes uses the unique qualities of flowing transparent pure watercolor to create mysterious rhythmic works, while in other pieces she incorporates a variety of other watermedia. In addition to painting, she has expressed her vision in: forged metal and wood sculpture as well as leaded glass design. The continuing source of inspiration for Laird’s work is a lifetime of interest in the cycles and connections in nature. |
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Laird has been in numerous solo and group exhibitions. “ Northwoods Art Gallery is honored to be the Gallery Robbie chose to debut her new work. Robbie’s “ Mt. Lassen in Springtime” is one of our most popular prints, and we know that collectors of her work are going to be very excited about these new pieces.” Said Long. Robbie’s paintings are especially popular in Hawaii where she shows with the Village Galleries on Maui, and is periodically invited to be an artist-in-residence. Her paintings have also been collected internationally. A past president of the San Diego Watercolor Society, Laird has an extensive background with arts organizations and art education. After completing her Masters degree in Art Education, Laird became a Fine Arts curriculum consultant, giving workshops for teachers throughout California, the United States, and abroad. She is the Director of The Kanuga Watercolor Workshops in North Carolina. Robbie is ferverent supporter of the arts here in Plumas County, donating time, art and energy to many causes including Art Around The Lake, a benefit for the Chester Schools music and arts programs. This year’s Art Around the Lake will be held July 18th and 19th and Robbie will be at the Northwoods Art Gallery as a docent this year.
The show and reception for Robbie Laird will be held at the Northwoods Art Gallery, 168 main Street on July 11, 2008 from 5:00p.m to 8:00p.m |
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