We recently connected with Russell Horton and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Russell, thanks for sharing your insights with our community today. Part of your success, no doubt, is due to your work ethic and so we’d love if you could open up about where you got your work ethic from?
I grew up in a blue collar lower middle class household. We had to work for what we wanted out of life. I think my drive as an artist comes from that background. The other influence on my work ethic comes from being curious about the world around me. Like a lot of artists, I have to know the subject or site completely in order to render it honestly as I can. Otherwise I will feel unsatisfied with what has been produced. “Meh, good enough” is not in my vocabulary.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I am a painter of my surroundings and the sites I paint are unpeopled allowing the viewer to contemplate the scene without distraction. There is a mood of profound solitude, of loneliness, in these places. The honest representation of the subject has allowed me to be honest with myself and establish an empathetic connection with structures isolated and hidden in the world around them. Being able to articulate these emotions through paint is very cathartic for me.
My work is being exhibited at the Museum of the Southwest in Midland, TX October 17, 2023 – January 14th, 2024.
Stop by and check it out if you happen to be in the west Texas area.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Be curious about what you don’t understand. Be able to think divergently. There’s a whole world of possibilities surrounding you. Lastly, do not become traumatized by mistakes. Learn from them so that you can move forward from your present position.
Who has been most helpful in helping you overcome challenges or build and develop the essential skills, qualities or knowledge you needed to be successful?
I was fortunate to have a wonderful professor when I was enrolled in college. Enrico Pinardi was his name. He helped me see that I had self worth that needed to be shared through my art. He gave me confidence and the ability to see the poetic in the human condition.
Contact Info:
- Website: rhortonart.com
- Instagram: rhortonart
