More Than Material Art Show Virtual Tour

"New Beginning" by Samuel Russel
Digital Prints

Artist Statement

Hello, my name is Samuel Russell. I am 18 years old and just recently graduated from ROCORI High School. The name of my piece(s) is New Beginning and I began by taking requests from people to do drawings. After a time people began offering to pay me for my art. That helped me to see that the pieces I did were enjoyed by others, and it drove me to continue to draw more and more. Because of that I wanted to share some of those pieces that I feel have encouraged me to continue moving forward toward a more professional art career. For these pieces I used a digital medium, using the drawing software on my computer.

I have always used more traditional mediums such as painting, pencil drawing, etc., and I wanted to do something different by using a digital medium. I always wanted to try and use the digital medium more but was unsure of my skills. What I’ve gained from the mentoring process is to be more relaxed and not to be so upset when I’ve made a mistake, or something doesn’t turn out the exact way I’ve wanted it to. What I’ve learned is that even if I’ve made a mistake it may not be a mistake at all, but just a difference that may actually give greater meaning to the piece.

I would like to thank the mentors who have been there for me, helping me to learn how to better express myself through my art. I especially would like to thank Paul Burros for showing me tips and tricks on how to improve my drawing skills. I also would like to thank my parents for believing in me and making sure I made it to PortaVision.

Oral Statement