About Russell Smith

Early on in his childhood, two things were clear about Russell Smith: 1) he loved airplanes, and 2) he loved to draw and paint. As early as grade school, people began to notice Russell’s creativity and aptitude for drawing, a talent that eventually led to a degree in art from Augusta State University. It was while studying there that Russell first began to notice the work of professional aviation artists, and from that point on he knew that his course was set.

After nearly a decade of working in the prepress industry as a graphic artist, Russell was finally able to make his dream a reality in 2001. Russell now works out of his home studio in North Carolina where he lives with his wife, Susan. His work focuses mainly on World War I aviation.

“I find the shapes and lines of aircraft and the movements involved with flight to be visually powerful, evoking ideas of unrestricted freedom, adrenaline rushes and fluidic motions. The history and the stories are compelling as well. When you combine those elements into a well-executed painting it can enable a viewer to become a witness to an event that happened long ago."

As you browse through Russell's work you will notice that his main focus is still on aviation subjects, especially subjects involving World War 1 aviation. Through extensive research he depicts actual historical events, aircraft and people from that exciting era. At the very heart of his work however, is the fact that he simply enjoys creating images, no matter what the subject.

Russell's work is strongly realistic, and his approach to painting is patterned after the techniques of the Classical Realists. When he creates an image he seeks to instill in the viewer the same sense of appreciation and wonder that he has for the subject. However, his ultimate goal is not necessarily to capture the fine details of a subject, but rather to capture the visceral experience and give the viewer a window into another time and place.

Selected Exhibitions

• Oil Painters of America Annual Exhibition, Devin Galleries, Coeur d'Alene, ID, 2011
• "Art of the Skies" Aviation Art exhibition, Art Center of Battle Creek, Battle Creek, MI, 2009
• "Southern Wings II" Aviation Art exhibition, Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum, Savannah, GA, 2007
• Original paintings on display at the Omaka Heritage Center, Blenheim, New Zealand
• American Society of Aviation Artists (ASAA) Annual Juried Exhibition: 1999, 2002, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011
• "Horizons of Flight" at Simuflite Training Center: 1996, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2011
• "Southern Wings " Aviation Art exhibition, Museum of Flight, Warner Robins, GA, 2005
• "Tumult In The Clouds" One man exhibition, Museum of Flight, Warner Robins, GA, 2004
• EAA Sport Aviation Art competition, Oshkosh, WI: 1999

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Selected Awards