Landscapes of Jerry Russell now on display at Tupper Arts

by Dan McClelland

The walls of Tupper Arts are filled these days with a new exhibitor who has been a participant in the art center’s “Plein Air” festivals in recent years.

The artist is Jerry Russell and the exhibition is entitled: “Landscapes and Other Things.”

The show opened last Wednesday and runs through mid-August.

What art lovers will find at the popular art spot these days are Jerry’s often very vivid landscape scenes, some of which are found nearby that he did on his recent visits to the area.

These photos are just a few samples of the great work the artist paints in oil.

Mr. Russell lives in Central New York, where he was born and raised. His home is just a short drive to the Adirondacks, which have inspired many of his creations.

He studied architecture and painting at a local community college, before transferring to Syracuse University, where he graduated in 1983 from the Visual Arts department with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in illustration and a minor in painting.

In recent years Jerry has been drawn to the “Plein Air” (open air) mode of painting, the subject of festivals around the country including Tupper Lake’s fall event.

It’s a direct method of painting outside from life, says Jerry. At every Plein Air event it takes participating artists out into host communities to explore the natural wonder, including landscapes and buildings.

According to his brief biography accompanying his exhibit here, the artist said he has been drawn to the energy associated painting, in the words of the French, “en plein air.”