Springtime Morning, 2018
Country Road, Acrylic, 2022
Highway Sunset, Acrylic, 2022
Lucy, Acrylic, 2022
Monochrome Moonlight, Acrylic, 2022
W&OD Sunrise, Oil and Acrylic, 2023
Lush Leaf #2, Acrylic, 2023
Cacao Pods, Costa Rica, Oil, 2023
SunSteps, Oil, 2023
Hacienda View, Oil, 2023
Background
Russ began painting in 2017 and it has become his passion and creative outlet. After completing a 30+ year career as a public health researcher, he now enjoys having more time for artistic work. In addition to the Arches Gallery at the Workhouse Arts Center, his paintings can be seen in Alexandria at the Art League’s Gallery 75 in the Torpedo Factory, and have been shown at Falls Church Arts, the Yellow Barn Studio, Del Ray Artisans and other local exhibit spaces. He lives in Falls Church, VA.
Artistic Philosophy
For Russ Mardon, painting is a path for exploration, introspection, and creativity. He is fascinated by the way that the different elements of a painting – composition, color, contrast, and texture – interact to create powerful imagery that can have both meaning and beauty. Creating a painting is at once a creative exercise in envisioning the end result, a problem-solving process to realize that vision, and a conversation with the future viewer of the image. Russ especially likes working from his own photographs. Many of his images are from hikes at local parks and trails, as well as travels in the U.S. and abroad. Often his subjects highlight the interplay between built structures and the natural environment. The paintings draw the viewer in by humanizing the scale of the landscape. He also enjoys painting animals and abstract images.