Highlighting Russell Case
Dreamily depicting scenes of the American West, Russell Case captures the viewer’s eye through vibrant color and light. This allows them to discover the detailed elements of the pieces. Most of his work is plein air paintings, which has been perfected over many years of practice and field studies. This technique, however, depends on many factors like light, time of day, and simple motivation, which don’t always align perfectly.
“Most of the time when I go out to paint, I just end up having lunch!”
The artistic process is a tricky beast, but despite the occasional distractions, Case still manages to produce breathtaking works that transport the viewer into an uncluttered depiction of the West.
Case is a new artist in the Buffalo Bill Art Show & Sale this year and will be making a large impression amongst the collection. He was recruited by Tim Newton, who is a publisher at Western Art & Architecture and a longtime friend of the Buffalo Bill Art Show & Sale.
Style and Subjects
Case’s work is clean and clear. He began his career using watercolors, but later transitioned to primarily using oil paints. The paintings evoke a breath of fresh air with the sweeping skies accompanying the vast plains and rolling mountains.
Wyoming, Oil, 9 x 12 inches
Several of his pieces follow a similar theme. They use color palettes with warm brown hues in the landscapes and a misty blue hue in the sky. The added subjects in the foreground of the pieces are the focus of many of his works. If a painting has a subject, they're often far away and off-center. This allows the viewer to explore more deeply and discover the intricate details. Many of his subjects are lonesome cowboys or traveling Native Americans. These subjects help to elicit the emotion of the nomadic lifestyle in the West.
Career and Inspiration
Case has always had a clear view of his career. In college at Utah State University, he was studying to become a professor of art. After graduation, he realized his real goal was to commit himself full-time as an artist. His original influence for his craft can be attributed to his father, Gary Case, who was also an artist and encouraged Case to pursue his talent. Aside from that, Case drew inspiration from exploring the act of going outside and painting from life.
Autumn Salute, Oil, 30 x 40 inches
If Case hadn’t decided to follow his path in the art world, he believes that he would have ended up painting houses. His artistic ability would need an outlet to express itself no matter what endeavor he pursued.
When looking at Case’s portfolio, one can only imagine how much pride he must feel from creating the art that he does, and from receiving the recognition that he has. He had only one thing to say about what he is the most proud of career-wise.
“I’m mostly just proud that I’ve survived this long!”
It’s an extremely competitive field to pursue, but with talent like his, it isn’t surprising that Case has made it as far as he has. Raking in numerous awards from prestigious art shows through the years, and having permanent exhibits in museums and galleries around the country, is no small feat.
For the rest of his career, Case said his goal is to continue to maintain his excitement for his craft “while focusing on glorifying God.” Upcoming exhibitions and art shows like the Buffalo Bill Art Show & Sale are what’s in store for his near future, and we hope to see his work continue to get the recognition that it deserves.