James L Russell
1872 - 1938
Places Lived
Indiana
Known for regionalist landscape, sculptor.
Biography
The following information is from Mary Katherine Russell Smith, Floyds Knobs, Indiana. She is the granddaughter of the artist.
James L. Russell was born in New Albany, Indiana, on October 10, 1872 and died on May 12, 1937. Russell's early expression of art was as a stone sculptor and cutter. His work still stands at the entrances of the Carnegie Center of Art and History in New Albany.
In 1906, Russell opened the Art Shop in New Albany, and this became a gathering place for artists of the area. He then founded the Wonderland Way Art Club at his studio and invited all artists to meet and discuss each other’s art and styles. Russell was a teacher and had more than 300 members in the Club.
Russell developed his own impressionist style of oil and pastel painting that became known as “A Sense of Place” style or “Ohio Valley” style. Russell exhibited in the Hoosier Salon, New Albany High School Gallery, Floyd County Library Shows, The Speed Museum, Brown County Art Guild and Wonderland Way exhibits. His works can be found at the Speed Art Museum, Carnegie Center, Brown County Art Guild, Floyds County Library, Chicago Art Institute, Indianapolis Art Museum and in many noted collections nationally.
Russell painted with William Forsythe, Joseph Krementz, Sid Crosier, Carl Brenner, Grover Page Sr. and Grover Page Jr. at King's Art Camp in Frankfort, Kentucky, and John Bauscher, Harvey Joiner and Paul Plaschke at the Louisville School of Art. In his lifetime Russell also taught many aspiring artists at his studio during his free time.
There was a retrospective show of Russell's work in January of 2000 at the Carnegie Center in New Albany. Collectors from all over the Midwest loaned their pieces for the exhibit, and more than 16,000 visitors attended during the two-month show.
Works of Art
Zinnias in a Blue Vase
1931
Pastel on paper
Field and Sky in the Knobs
1927
Oil on board
Winter Street Scene
1938
Gouache
Winter Evening
1937
Oil on canvas
White Lilacs
1928
Gouache
The Glory of Spring
1933
Pastel
Summer on Silver Creek
1936
Oil on canvas
Sugar Grove on Ohio River
1902
Oil
Secluded Retreat
1935
Pastel
Rothrock's Mill. White Cloud, Indiana
1936
Pastel
Oval of Roses
1932
Oil
October Glory
1934
Oil on canvas
Joseph Krementz Portrait
1936
Pastel
Indiana Snow Scene
1934
Oil on board
Green Shutters
Year unknown
Oil on canvas
Cosmos
Year unknown
Gouache
Autumn Beeches
1937
Pastel
Elizabeth, Indiana
1934
Oil on canvas
Zinnias in Blue Vase
1932
Pastel
