Artist Russell D'Alessio
Paintings ~ Drawings ~ Graphics
The Wondrous, Whimsical World of
Artist Russell D'Alessio
Bar Harbor, Maine
Originality is the essence of creativity.
The paintings of Russ D'Alessio exude the joy of life and attract appreciation the world round. They are whimsical and strikingly colorful, and each one tells a story, one with which people naturally connect.
The story, and how it is communicated, is what intrigues people and draws them into Russ's world. That aspect is also what marks Russ's work as so different, as where most artists paint something they see right in front of them, Russ develops a vision and paints right out of his imagination. That originality is the essence of creativity.
In his fifth decade painting, Russ is first and foremost a keen observer of people and of life in general. He has a fundamentally positive outlook, though a contemplative one, and there is no darkness in his approach. His work reflects that outlook, and is fanciful and vivid, and drawn with the vibrant palette for which he is so well known.
His creative process is engaging. For Russ, painting is more than just drawing what you see, it is an adventure, "a journey of discovery." He feels that painting something you are looking at is a study, not a journey, and studies deprive him of the opportunity of conceiving a story and spontaneously following where it leads. "I'd rather discover a subject," he states. And Russ is not afraid to experiment. "I start with abstract shapes, shadow, light, and decide the figures and colors as I tell the story. The story unfolds, even to me," He expresses his visions in his art.
Linda D'Alessio, Russ's wife, and the manager of their studio has this perspective: "The ideas, the creativity, just pour out of Russ. They are like a stream fed by some inexhaustible source." She adds, "Somewhere in us we have a child-like playfulness, and Russ draws that out with subtlety and humor. Yet there is also an edge to his work, and sometimes an erotic one. He is deeply interested in the human condition and his paintings proclaim that."
Russ's work is characterized by his appreciation of women, who are frequently the subjects of his paintings, and the light touch he exhibits in that work has won international acclaim.
Indeed, the human and animal subjects that populate Russ's work overall display a light-hearted, even jaunty attitude while at the same time they have a real sensitivity and serenity to them. This is an extraordinary combination that charms people and accounts fo Russ's success.
Russ wants people to engage with the paintings and see in them their own stories. And they do, relating to the paintings on a personal, emotional level. "Collectors first see the colors, which brings a smile to their faces; then they realize there is content to it and connect." says Russ. He continues, "They love the picture it creates in their own minds. It becomes a part of them. They have a desire to be in that place, get lost in that space." Linda attributes some of their following to the "edge" the work has, remarking that "They are drawn to that edge," Owners of Russ's art relate they feel its imagination and creativity and identify with it. One collector spoke for many when she stated, "Russ's art makes me feel an elation about life."
Russ summarizes: "I am creating a world, an expression of myself, that extends to other people and brings a smile to their faces and a warmth to their hearts." And in this, he has succeeded.
People "first see the color...then they realize there is content to it and the work and connect."