G. Russell Case

Western painter G. Russell Case is inspired by nature, but he places little value on literal translations. His sweeping, idealized versions of the western landscape are compositions that combine the beauty of the natural world with the rich imagination and originality of an artist’s mind.

While there is an unmistakable honesty present in his painted environments -- stemming from his engagement with the land painted directly from nature -- viewers may be reminded of other great artists of the west, whose work is marked by distinctive artistic philosophies. Case’s work is unfettered by philosophy and intellect, though he is surely a student of his artistic forebears. The monumental scale of Maynard Dixon, or the unfiltered color and light of Thomas Moran both find their way into his visual language. Yet Case’s work is simple, pure, and fresh; his painting draws in the viewer and delivers timeless landscapes. We are immediately transported into a world created by shadow and light, of immense vistas punctuated by jagged mountains and inhabited by lonesome cowboys. Although Russell Case was undoubtedly stirred by the philosophies of the great artists and fueled by the freedom of painting from nature, this artist maintains that his most profound inspiration came from those in his own life who bolstered his career and remained faithful to his vision.

Today, Russell Case’s work is represented in galleries including Di Tommaso Galleries in Jackson, WY; Trailside Gallery in Jackson, WY; Walls Fine Art Gallery in Wilmington, NC; Michael Hollis Fine Art & Antiques in South Pasadena, CA; David Ericson Fine Art in Salt Lake City, UT; Bingham Gallery in Mt. Carmel, UT; Gerald Peters Gallery in Santa Fe, and Mitchell Brown Fine Art in Scottsdale. Case has also won numerous awards including Best of Show and First Place Oil Painting, Phippen Western Art Show in Prescott, Arizona in 2001; First Place at Southwest Magazine Artist to Watch Show in Steam Boat Springs, Colorado in 2002; and Best of Show, People’s Choice, and Artist’s Choice, Maynard Dixon Country, Mt. Carmel Junction, Utah in 2003. Among the shows that Case has been invited to in the last few years are the Western Visions show in Jackson, WY; Coors Western Art Exhibition, Denver, CO.; and Maynard Dixon Country, Mt. Carmel.

Russell Case resides in Brigham City, Utah with his wife, Susanne and two of his children Morgan, and Cooper with the oldest Taylee away at college.

Excerpt from: Corriel, Michele, “Ones to Watch; Spotlighting the works of April Surgent, Matthew Monahan and G. Russell Case.” Western Art & Architecture. Premier Issue (Fall 2007). 26.