Russell Gordon

Gordon completed a rigorous atelier program at the Schuler School of Fine Arts in Baltimore, Maryland, and subsequently furthered his academic art education for three years as an apprentice to Will Wilson. Armed with an arsenal of expertise and a strong interest in the later still life works of the Northern Renaissance painters, he began to approach his art practice with increasing virtuosity. He stretches his own canvases and frequently fashions the frames which house his works. Gordon’s still life, floral and bird paintings are opulent, almost jewel-like, and obsessively detailed. He hand grinds his own paints and utilizes Maroger Medium to increase the transparency, which allows for a sumptuous layering effect. Moreover, the artist often employs chiaroscuro to create striking tension within his compositions; this technique is exceptionally successful with pieces depicting decadent vanitas or naturalistic subject matter. Although the Dutch Masters’ influence is underpinning, the artist manages to imbue his work with an astute contemporary feeling, moments of whimsy and a lovely freshness, referencing classical and naturalistic art but also instilling a sense of timelessness.