Meet Russell Smith

Sometimes the greatest gifts arrive at the most unexpected times. With a master's degree in exercise physiology and plans to open a sports performance facility, Jonathan Noon thought he knew his career path.

In 2001, Russell Smith made a bold decision. He decided to walk away from his successful career in the printing industry and give himself a timeline of one year to pursue his true passion: becoming a full-time artist. As he explained, “We’ll give this a year and see how it goes… well then, a year turned into 24.” Focusing his paintings on the American West and aviation, Russell has further refined his craft and has created pieces for many prestigious collections and exhibitions around the country. A testament to a gamble that paid off in ways he couldn’t have imagined when he first picked up his brush full-time.

When reflecting upon the development of his creative process throughout the years, Russell said his art draws heavily from the traditions of French academic painting. It is an approach that tends to surprise those who are new to representational art, particularly the time investment it requires. “What a lot of people aren’t aware of is how much preliminary work goes into representational art. It’s not just a matter of stepping up to a canvas and knocking out an image,” he explains.

Using this time to prioritize proportions and attention to detail, Russell elaborated on the importance of his extensive research and reference gathering before starting a piece. For many of his works, the process starts at photoshoots in South Dakota. Russell will attend workshops where he captures candid moments of models to use as his reference photos. After choosing the most captivating scenes to recreate, he may then work through several versions of the same scene, adding layers in pursuit of the composition he envisions.

This front-end research is also what Russell finds the most challenging in his work. The commitment to accuracy in his paintings stems from a desire to transport viewers into the scene itself. “I want the viewer to know they are still looking at a painting. But I want them to be looking through a window at a scene in front of them, because that frame is really a window frame,” Russell explains.

This ability to transport viewers has found its ideal subject in one of Russell’s biggest inspirations, the American West. While first exposed to the Western world through his parents’ interests, it wasn’t until Russell began traveling there in his twenties that he truly felt connected to the landscape. “The Old West is our American mythology,” he reflects. “And I just started falling in love with those stories.”

Painting the Old West inevitably means painting horses, a subject that has become central to his work. More specifically, Russell has discovered his fondness for combining horses and people within his artwork. “It’s the interaction of the two that really fascinates me,” he says.

Another creative influence for Russell originates from his interest in aviation. This childhood obsession, as he labeled it, even led to college dreams of becoming an aeronautical engineer. However, after discovering the artwork of aviation artist Robert Taylor, Russell realized he no longer wanted to design the machines but to paint them. Airplanes offer unique opportunities for depicting movement and artistic freedom, making them a lasting theme in his collection. Earning wide recognition, Russell’s painting “Last Night” is even on permanent display at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C.

Russell’s dedication to capturing these scenes extends beyond the canvas itself. When asked how he hopes viewers react to the work, Russell recognizes a deep meaning at play: “I think there is huge importance for an artist to establish a relationship with the collector. I’ve seen this over and over again. Collectors don’t just want to buy a painting; they want to get to know the artist and the story behind the painting.”

Beyond discussing the artwork, we asked Russell what ice cream flavor he would be if given the choice. Confidently answering, “Mexican chocolate. It’s chocolate with cayenne pepper in it. You’re getting the good chocolate, and then suddenly it hits the back of your throat and kicks you in the head.” It’s a fitting metaphor for an artist whose work combines the comfort of traditional technique with the unexpected power of dramatic storytelling.

Explore more of Russell Smith’s artwork online at equineinstincts.com or in person at our pop-up gallery at the World Equestrian Center Ocala, inside Indoor Arena 2.