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Russell grew up in Prescott, AZ and enjoyed the closeness of the outdoors.
Today, he is an avid hiker, seeking out trails to explore. On these explorations,
Russell will paint "en plein aire" as well as photograph and sketch subjects for future paintings.
Some of his favorite places to hike to find inspiration include: the Grand Canyon, Clear Creek,
Wet Beaver Creek, Fossil Creek, West Fork, Oak Creek, the San Francisco Peaks, Granite Mountain, and Watson Woods of Prescott.
Russell is an Arizona native landscape artist. Through art-making he finds outlets to release
expressions of the mysteries of nature. His work is currently exhibited at the Frame & I Art Gallery
in Prescott, AZ where he actively participates in shows. His work is also part of various private collections.
He began his love of art at a young age, creating drawings of subjects around his childhood home near
Lynx Creek in Prescott. He acquired his first degree in art from Yavapai College, Associates of Arts,
in 2001. Russell went on to receive his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Arizona in May of 2003.
He later completed his thesis work, May of 2011, and graduated with a Master's of Arts degree in Visual
Arts from Prescott College. His thesis project was titled “Designing a Sublime Painting of the Grand
Canyon.” In it, he wrote this artist statement: “The Grand Canyon is a landscape of radiant sights and
experiences. The art I create reflects the excitement I feel toward the Grand Canyon. The Grand Canyon
is a familiar and refreshing place yet it always reveals new pages in its seemingly endless book. Each
new page is a delightful discovery of nature’s mysteries, an enduring cyclical process that encourages
me to express the impact of its sublime qualities. My approach to painting is to investigate grand
themes in nature. During my portfolio research, I developed a strategy to translate my hiking experiences
into impressions of how it actually felt to witness the Grand Canyon. Unconcerned about conveying exact
details, I limited my attention to faithful and imaginative contemplation of the sublime. Just as the Grand
Canyon has left an impression on me, my paintings serve a similar purpose: to invite an exploration of its majestic beauty.”
Russell's paintings are vibrant and energetic, often painting with a palette knife. He is a colorist, emphasizing
light and color as a dramatic force in his paintings. Russell apprenticed with accomplished landscape painter Robert Knudson during
the years of 2009 to 2011. Russell Johnson states that during these years with Knudson, "he taught me that a painting of Nature should reflect not
only how I see it, but how I feel about what I see. Creatively, I learned to interpret Nature according to what moves me."
Russell’s personal vision strikes an emotional chord through his expressive use of color.
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Plein Aire painting at West Fork, October 2011
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List of Select Exhibitions:
2011 Miniature Masterpieces Show, The Frame & I Gallery, Prescott, AZ
2011 Thesis Exhibition and Recent Works, The Frame & I Gallery, Prescott, AZ
2010 Thesis Exhibition: Designing a Sublime Representation of the Grand Canyon,
Solo Show at Prescott College, AZ
2008 Yavapai College Alumni Show, Prescott, AZ
2007 6th Annual Employee Art Show, The Frame & I Gallery, Prescott, AZ
2005 Russell Johnson One Man Show, The Frame & I Gallery
2005 Heliographic Society Exhibit, Prescott Fine Arts Association, Prescott, AZ
2004 Forms and Faces on the Edge, PFAA, Prescott, AZ
2004 Past and Present Mr. Murphy Alumni Show, Prescott High School
2004 Storytelling Through Photography, PFAA, Prescott, AZ
2003 Annual BFA Show, Joseph Gross Gallery, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
2003 Advanced Photography Class Exhibition, Center for Creative Photography, U of A
2003 Tri-State Plus National Exhibition, Beaumont Art League, Beaumont, TX
2002 Hands-on exhibit of relief prints, Tucson Children’s Museum
2001 Student Juried Show, Yavapai College, Prescott, AZ, 2nd place
2001 Prescott Fine Arts Association Competition show, Prescott, AZ, 1st place
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Sketching at Shoshone Point, May 2010
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Russell Johnson Artist - Copyright 2010
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