Russ Tanner

Russ Tanner's art is of the land itself, a testament to its wide-open spaces and sky, to the beauty of its high mountain majesty and of its hard, angular places. He has been inspired by the majesty of the Southwestern mountain ranges and the subtle beauty of the deserts. His love of nature and things of beauty are conveyed through his technical art training, coupling his honest realism with the softer subtleties of impressionism.

Primarily a landscapist, his choice of subject matter came as no surprise. As a young boy, frequent excursions to the mountains with his Boy Scout troop would often find Russ lost from the rest of the group and mesmerized for hours on end by the incredible view of a distant vista. He had fallen under the spell of the mountains and of uncrowded country. These early childhood memories evoked his sensibilities and influenced his now accomplished approach to painting.

Russ\' talents were noticed at an early age. He was awarded a full scholarship to the American Academy of Art in Chicago. After graduation, he moved to Kansas City, where he pursued a career as an illustrator for Hallmark Cards. He continued his formal studies at the Kansas City Art Institute. Later, Russ chose to freelance as an illustrator and designer for advertising firms and design studios. In 1992 Russ gave up a solid career as a commercial artist in the Midwest and moved permanently to New Mexico. The Southwest provided him with subject matter that he painted first for himself, then for others that recognized his talent and shared his love of the land. His work has come alive by capturing the light, color, and expansive landscapes of the Southwest. With new country and fresh inspiration his talents have quickened to a gallop.

Russ prefers to paint in the early morning or late afternoon because it is at these times the light is more saturated while the angle of light produces brilliance of color like no other time of the day. The emergence of a new day or the slow retirement of day\'s-end reveals a beauty of its own.

Russ Tanner has exhibited in numerous national and regional competitions and is the recipient of a Merit Award from the 1997 Oil Painters of America (OPA) National Show and voted a signature member of the OPA.