As a painter and as a person, G. Russell Case is an individual. His approach has always been such, whether hiking in the Wasatch Mountains above his Utah home or throwing the perfect fly cast on the Green River.
As a painter his most important influence in finding freedom to make his own approach is the writing of Robert Henri in his book, The Art Spirit. Through his art, Case intends to convey simplicity, artistic vision, and observations of western travel. He paints directly from nature to record color and light, and his studio compositions are derivations of thoughts recorded outdoors.
Expressing his own attitude toward subject matter, Case has made it clear that there is no value to be placed on literal translations of nature. His general scope is not realistic, rather his tendencies strive toward idealization. Thomas Moran was one of the first to declare this thesis when asked about using photography for subject matter. He said, "Of course, all art must come through nature or naturalism, but I believe that a place, as a place, has no value in itself for the artist only so far as it furnishes the material from which to construct a picture."
More than anything, this is the philosophy of Case as he seeks subjects in the enchanting southwestern country, flooded with color and enchantment, where pictorial interpretations await only artists with natural skills and original thoughts. The Grand Canyon was there before Moran; the clouds were there before Dixon. California hills were there before Wendt and Redmond; Utah cottonwoods and Mormon farmhouses were there before Stewart. Russell Case has also discovered these subjects.
A graduate of Snow College and Utah State University, Russell has studied with Osrald Allred, Carl Purcell, Harrison Groutage, and Gaell Lindstrom. One-man shows and awards include Best of Show at the Phippen Museum and Best Small Oil at the Maynard Dixon Country 2001 invitational.
Biography courtesy of Maynard Dixon Living History Museum
By Paul Bingham
