Russell John Lumb, Painter, Print Maker
Iowa City, Iowa
Russell is a retired architect from England. His drawing, painting and printmaking creations predominantly explore the human figure and particularly portraiture.
His work is original, dynamic, intensely colorful, sometimes mystical portraits birthed in a creative reservoir deep within Russell’s mind.
As an architect, Russell specialized in retail, hotel, school and residential design. In retirement, his artistic journey exploded, manifesting itself into hundreds of prints and imaginative creations.
His complex works also result from a mechanical process which involves photography, manipulation on computers, tissue paper, down printing with ink, and carefully applied reversal.
“My architectural work was extremely controlled and regulated. Lines had to be accurate with no freedom of expression in drawing. I now pride myself in achieving a likeness through expression, not accuracy. To make a painting more interesting, I needed to be much more relaxed and expressive.”
“I produce a printed image on panel, then I work into it with graphite pencil, more acrylic and finally adding a sealing coat. It’s a mix of old fashioned and newfangled tools. It all starts with original painting.”
