Rebecca Russow

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After nearly twenty years of raising a family, teaching art, and working as a school principal, I retired and started a successful wedding and family photography business for nearly ten years. When Covid put an end to that business, I started making art for myself. Exploring mixed media, encaustics and ceramics.

Soon I had too much art for my home. I joined a few art groups and began exhibiting my art in various galleries throughout the Chicago area.

I love spending time with my family and exploring nature in various parts of the county. My happy place is in my studio exploring different techniques and combining my love of mixed media, encaustics and ceramics.

ARTIST’S STATEMENT

I love experimenting with a variety of materials, striving to create harmony and cohesiveness from diverse components. I find this similar to finding commonalities with people who hold different views. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't, but we learn from each attempt.

I like a challenge and seldom give up (with art or people!). I attempt to create unity through layering, adding textures, colors, lines, texts or graphic elements. The piece eventually comes together as a whole, and if it doesn't, I follow the advice of a former instructor and know that I'm not finished yet!

My goal is to hold the viewer's attention for a sustained amount of time, allowing them to consider the title of the piece and hopefully make a personal connection to the artwork.

$520.00

Encaustic and mixed media on wood panel (framed).

7.50x7.50x2"

The artist used original photos of lichen and bark transferred to wax as the base for this collage. This is framed in a black floater frame. A batik pen was used to create the lines in wax.

Rebecca Russow

$3,480.00

Encaustic and mixed media on wood panel (set of 3).

18x24"

Each wood panel is 6" x 24" x 1.5". The artist used original photos of lichen and bark and transferred the photos onto the wax. Lichen is a composite organism that arises from algae and multiple fungi in a mutualisitc relationship - they can not survive as separate organisms. Circles represent the connections we have with one another as well as with nature.

Rebecca Russow

$1,110.00

Mixed media on board.

16x16"

Unframed on a birch cradled panel. Vaginal ceramic shapes represent life springing forth in a watery, plant-like setting. Patterns and swirls of encaustic wax were created using a batik pen.

Rebecca Russow

$520.00

Encaustic on panel (framed).

13x13x2"

When the artist saw the text "I Want To See The Bright Lights", she had to use this as a center piece with brightly colored patterns created with a batik pen on a wood panel in a gold frame.

Rebecca Russow

$3,480.00

Collage and painting on board.

36x36"

Unframed on reinforced birch cradled panel. This collage uses photos by the artist of a forest devastated by fire juxtaposed with original photos of old barn wood, along with images soldiers at war and a veterans cemetery. Texts from a German bible, an old Farmer's Almanac and magazines are also embedded in the collage. The halo/sun encircles the words Outraged Reclaiming Our Future. Nature and humankind can be gone in an instant.

Rebecca Russow