A Mary Russell still life is a melding of influences that include the combined knowledge of her artistic training with living artists and the focused personal study of deceased masters’ work.
She works from life with natural light and prefers to paint on panels that she prepares herself. Her method of working is in the traditional manner of thin to thick paint and dark to light. The finished result is that of a masterful contemporary painting in a unique arrangement.
Mary is a member of the Pastel Society of America and the Oil Painters of America. Her resume includes many awards and gallery exhibitions including:
Salon International 2003 – Second Place
Oil Painters of America, Gamblin Award of Excellence
Pastel Society of America, National Arts Club, Manhattan
Gilcrease Museum: Rendezvous, Invitational Demonstrating Artist, Annual Miniature Show
Six-person show: Morris & Whiteside Gallery, Hilton Head Island
One-man show: E. S. Lawrence Gallery, Aspen
Two-man show: M. A. Doran Gallery, Tulsa
Her publications include feature articles in Southwest Art magazine, American Artist magazine and American Art Collector. Mary was also selected as an exemplary artist, providing tips and instructions to the reader in the international publication entitled “How Did You Paint That?”.
As a child in Aurora, Illinois, Mary Russell knew when she received her first box of sixty-four Crayola crayons that she wanted to be an artist. Years later when her family moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma, Mary was fortunate to have an art instructor in high school who helped her compile a portfolio that won her an art scholarship at ORU. Though she eventually changed schools to pursue her studies elsewhere, family life intervened and Mary temporarily postponed her dreams of art. When she took up the brush again ten years later, she began by taking workshops with the artists whose work she most admired and secured gallery representation within a couple of years, officially beginning her career as a professional artist.
“I have so much appreciation for my non-academic art education. I studied with wonderful working artists of my own choosing who were making a living doing what they loved.”
Though she began her career as a figurative artist, she decided to explore the still life in order to understand spatial relationships better. She developed a love for the genre and discovered there was a strong market for her work.
“Working with the still life composition, I realized my love of problem solving. These compositions could contain anything I wanted: beautiful objects, images of figures or landscapes, and the use of natural light. Better yet, there was no need to brave the Oklahoma elements!”
Today, Mary works and teaches in her studio where she produces representational work that encompasses multiple genres, including figure work, landscape, and still life.
Solo & Duo Shows:
“A World at Play,” Capitol Exhibition, Governor’s Gallery, Oklahoma Arts Council, OKC, 2015
One-Man Show, E. S. Lawrence Gallery, Aspen, CO, 2005
Two-Man Show, M. A. Doran Gallery, Tulsa, OK, 2001
Two-Man Show, M. A. Doran Gallery, Tulsa, OK, 1995
Selected Exhibition History, Auctions, & Demonstrations:
“Small Works Great Wonders,” National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, OKC, OK, 2011-2012
Collectors’ Reserve, Gilcrease Museum, Tulsa, OK, 2010 – 2012
American Art Classic, Morris & Whiteside Gallery Auction, Charleston & Hilton Head, 1995 – 2016
Renaissance Sale, Altermann & Morris Galleries Auction, Santa Fe & Houston, 1995- 2004
American Art in Miniature, Gilcrease Museum, Tulsa, OK, 1990 – 2009
Invitational Demonstrating Artist, Philbrook Museum, Tulsa, OK, Magnificent Vision 2011
Guest Lecturer, Gilcrease Museum, Tulsa, OK, Collector’s Reserve 2010
Invitational Demonstrating Artist, Gilcrease Museum, Tulsa, OK, Rendezvous 1990
Awards & Juried Shows:
NOAPS 2022 Spring Online Exhibition
OPA 2021 Western Regional Exhibition
NOAPS 2020 International Online Exhibition
WAOW 2020 50th Jubilee National Exhibition and Sale
WAOW Harvest Home Online Show 2019, Honorable Mention
David A. Leffel Award for Excellence 2011 – Finalist
Salon International 2004, Jury’s Top Fifty
Salon International 2003, Second Place Award
Oil Painters of America Annual Juried Exhibition, 2002
Oil Painters of America Annual Juried Exhibition, 1995 Gamblin Award of Excellence
Pastel Society of America Annual Juried Exhibition 1989 – Napa Valley Art Award
Books, Periodicals, & Media:
Cover Art – Hunger & Thirst, Nimrod International Journal, University of Tulsa, Fall 2013
Arts Commercial featuring Mary Russell, OETA – PBS affiliate, 2010 - 2014
“Objects of Desire,” Southwest Art magazine, June 2007
Upcoming Show” article for E.S. Lawrence Gallery, American Art Collector, August 2005
How Did You Paint That? 100 Ways to Paint Still life & Florals, International Artist Publishing, 2004
“Moving from One Medium to Another,” American Artist magazine, August 1991
Affiliations and Memberships:
Pastel Society of America, Signature Member
Oil Painters of America, Associate Member
Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition
Current Representation:
M.A. Doran Gallery, Tulsa, OK