Matthew Russell

artist statement

As an artist I love the feeling of creating, being able to turn blank canvases into transformed pieces of work that I’m proud of. Some of my recent work I like bringing a fresh contemporary feel creating pieces that show bright saturated colors bringing my visions to life! My main inspirations for my paintings are flowers, mountain landscapes, fruit and replicating works from artists that have had an impact on myself. I create still life flower paintings as a way to bring peace to me and my viewer and strive to give a tranquil, quiet atmosphere. One of my submissions is a flower painting titled “summer shine, sunflowers” I used my own inspiration pictures and references from online, my influence behind the piece was my favorite artist Van Gogh and his painting “sunflowers”.Vincent Van Gogh, Claude Monet, Leonardo Da Vinci, all of whom have influenced my work in many ways. I’m mainly a realist artist, but I enjoy experimenting with impressionism and abstract paintings. Monet's colorful approach to painting has me hooked and is the reason I paint flowers and submitted a rose painting called “the flower of love” representing a deeper meaning and significance of newly found love.