Carlo Russo is teaching some workshops. Follow the link for more information
Tag Archives: Carlo Russo
Carlo Russo wins Purchase Prize at ARC
Carlo Russo, Dreams of Ophila, 29 x 22 inches, oil on linen
We just found out some good news from one of our artists, Carlo Russo. His painting, “Dreams of Ophelia” won a purchase prize awards at the 2013 Art Renewal Center Salon, as well as winning 3rd place in figurative category. Carlo’s painting “the blue dress” was a still life finalist too.
Carlo Russo, Blue Dress, oil on linen
Congratulations to Carlo Russo!
May 2, 2013 · 10:55 pm
Broad Street Review: Carlo Russo at F.A.N. Gallery
We always love good reviews of our artists. You can read about Carlo Russo’s work here:
Filed under Artists
Interview with Carlo Russo
Carlo Russo, "The Blue Dress", 25 X 42 inches, oil on linen
Carlo Russo crafts beautiful paintings reminiscent of 19th century works. His work hints at the influence of orientalism in western art of the past century. Carlo is inspired by realist, naturalist and romantic painters such as Ilya Repin, Jules Bastien-Lepage, John William Waterhouse and Claudio Bravo. One can see Bravo’s influence in some of Carlo’s still lifes and in his color choices.
Carlo Russo, "Orientaliste," 20 X 23 inches, oil on linen
Since Carlo’s work is traditional and impeccably crafted, I wondered if he was trained in Europe. I asked him where he was from.
I was born in Philadelphia but I lived in Bucks County and New Jersey when I was young. I moved back to Philly when I was 13 and have been here ever since. Although I did move down to New Orleans in 2005, my stay was brief. Katrina hit two weeks after I got there so I ended up back in Philadelphia.
When did you discover that you wanted to be an artist?
I really didn’t think about a career as a fine artist until I was in my late twenties. I had studied fashion design at the Art Institute but realized it wasn’t going to be a good fit for me. So after I got my degree I enrolled at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA) and by the time I was in my 4th year I started to feel that I could make paintings that were good enough to show in a gallery and sell to collectors. I was probably 27 or 28 when I made the decision that painting was going to be my job.
What did your fashion work look like, what materials interested you then?
My fashion work was creative but I wasn’t a natural born tailor, so I think the construction wasn’t too great in my early designs. I got better through lots of practice in the sewing room, cutting patterns, etc. My graduation show was a group of military-inspired designs with touches of biker influence. I ended up using denim and wool as my main two fabrics. I did some hand painting on them, hand embroidery and I even made little skull buttons out of Scuply clay! It was pretty funny. I think my teachers got a kick out of them.
Carlo Russo, "Quinces," 11 x 22 inches, oil on linen
Can you tell me a little more about what you like to do other than paint?
I love to golf, believe it or not. In the summer, I try to play at least once a week. It’s really the most challenging sport I’ve ever attempted. The biggest thing in golf is consistency. Keeping mistakes to a minimum and being able to strike the ball well and make it go where you want, over and over, is one of the biggest challenges. It also helps to have a good short game. If I’m putting and chipping well I know I’m going to have a chance at a good round. Also, it helps to be relaxed and just have fun. I’ve played my best rounds during those times.
You are able to capture the texture of objects in your still lives, whether it is yarn, a sheepskin, glass or terracotta. How do you choose your subject matter or objects? Does the material of the object come into consideration?
The choice of subject matter is not always easy to explain. I choose things that have a certain visual or textural quality that attracts me. It can be an antique clay pot or a feather duster from Ikea. The material of the object has to have a certain harmony with the rest of the painting. Is it harmonious or discordant with the rest of the composition? I consider colors and size/shapes of objects in the same way. These things, plus other factors are running through my mind as I’m setting up what I’m going to paint.
Carlo Russo, "Arizona Afternoon," 16 x 22 inches, oil on linen
What draws you to the desert to paint?
The desert landscape painting that is in this show was based on a small study I did near Phoenix, Arizona, in 2010. I had never been to the desert prior to that, but the landscape always seemed intriguing. It’s so different compared to the typical eastern United States landscape that I grew up with. It seems otherworldly to me. I made some other studies that will hopefully become larger studio painting in the near future.
Can you tell me what was the most important thing you got out of your education at PAFA and some of the things you try to teach your students? Where do you teach?
The majority of my teaching is done right at my studio. I have a small number of students I work with who study privately with me. I’m actually moving to a bigger studio in June so I’ll be able to take on a few more people then. I also teach at Woodmere Art Museum on Tuesday nights, which is sort of an intro level class. Plus I started teaching workshops at different schools last year and have two workshops scheduled for June of this year at Studio Incamminati and The Los Angeles Academy of Figurative Art. I’ve enjoyed teaching the workshops and it’s something I’d like to do more of in the future.
I think the whole issue of my education is an interesting question. I studied at PAFA and I feel fortunate that I got to study with some excellent teachers while I was there. Many of whom are not teaching there anymore, sadly. I really feel like I was in the right place at the right time and it helped to set my career on the path that I’m on. I think what I came away with was an excellent foundation in drawing and anatomy. I think the painting aspect took time to develop after I graduated. I feel like I’ve started to come into my own a bit during the last few years. When I was fresh out of PAFA I lamented that I hadn’t studied at a more traditional, atelier-style school. But in recent years I feel like I’ve changed my tune a bit. I feel like some of the living artists who I really admire the most didn’t come out of the atelier environment. And they are doing some incredibly beautiful, skillful and brilliant work. I could also say they are lots of well-trained painters who have come out ateliers who are creating nice work too. But training doesn’t equal vision or taste. I guess I’m saying that I got to cultivate my own visual aesthetic and I’m grateful for that. So when I teach my students I do teach them the methods I use to create my work but I know in time they will develop their own language and vision.
Carlo Russo continues to develop a rich and beautiful language in his work and I for one, look forward to seeing his growth as an artist over next few years.
December 2011
Rick Buttari and Joshua Koffman, December 2011
F.A.N. has a wonderful new exhibit opening in December.
Rick Buttari: New Paintings and Joshua Koffman: Sculpture
There will be a group show on the second floor featuring new work by Jesse J. Gardner, Al Gury, Kate Kern Mundie, Carlo Russo, Serge Zhukov, and introducing new artists Nick Patten, Philip Corey and Olga Nielsen, plus work by many more or FAN’s artists.
December 2nd – 31st, 2011
Opening reception:
Friday, December 2nd, 5-9:00 PM
Hours: Wednesday – Sunday, 12-6:00 PM
Filed under Events
5 Day Painting Workshop with F.A.N. Artist, Carlo Russo
Carlo Russo, Colored Yars, 28 x 24 inches, oil on linen
Carlo Russo be teaching a 5 day still life painting workshop at the Long Island Academy of Fine Arts , in Glen Cove NY, December 12-16th.
In this five-day workshop, students will learn how to compose a still life, from arranging props to selecting the appropriate surface for the painting. Students will learn to transfer their drawings to the canvas and techniques for building up the surface in painted layers.
The cost of the workshop is $490 (not including supplies) . For more info or to register call 646-508-7645 or email : info@liafa.com.
New Website Updates
Serge Zhukov, Fixing Her Hair, 20 X 15 inches, graphite on paper
Carlo Russo, Azalea, 12 X 20 inches, oil on linen
- Lesa Chittenden Lim, On the Water, 22 X 33 inches, water color and pastel
We have added web pages for Lesa Chittenden Lim, Carlo Russo, and Serge Zhukov.
Filed under Artists
F.A.N.’s 19th Year at USArtists American Fine Art Show & Sale
Serge Zhukov, Drawing Class, Right part of diptych. Acrilic, oil on canvas 36×36 inches
Al Gury, Twilight, oil on canvas, 16 x 20 inches
USArtists is the nation’s premier American art event. Many of the country’s
finest art dealers exhibit and sell an extraordinarily rich and diverse collection
of 18th- through 21st-century American art.
This will be F.A.N. Gallery’s 19th year exhibiting at USArtists American Fine Art Show & Sale. Please come and share in a selection of new paintings, sculpture and works on paper by David Bottini, Rick Buttari, Lesa Chittenden Lim, Al Gury, Robert Heilman, Tezh Modarressi, Kate Kern Mundie, Gregory Prestegord, Carlo Russo, Kathleen Weber, Serge Zhukov, and others.
Friday, Saturday & Sunday, September 23-25, 2011
Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts | Samuel M.V. Hamilton Building
Opening Night Preview Gala: Thursday, September 22
New Collectors Night: Friday, September 23
Show Hours:
Friday and Saturday, 11:00 am – 8:00 pm
Sunday, 11:00 am – 5:00 pm
Admission
PAFA members & children under 12 are free!
General Admission: $15 pp
Seniors & Students with ID: $12 pp
Groups of 6 or more: $12 pp
Benefits of Admission: Receive one full-color show catalog, unlimited entry to USArtists 2011 and one free admission to PAFA valid until October 2012.
Receive a $3 discount on a full price admission ticket when you purchase online.
All proceeds from USArtists directly benefit student scholarships
at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts.
Filed under Events
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