Abbeth Russell ’11

I am a touring artist and performer based in Portland, Maine. My surreal narratives are influenced by our world but exist in a place that lies closer to the spirit realm. The mythology of landscapes and the ancestors of characters rise to the surface. Painting connects me to the magic of my characters and their stories. Through them I gain a better understanding of my own reality. The worlds I create are born in sketchbooks and raised on wood panels, imbued with the life force of acrylic paint. I build up, sand down, scrape through, and glaze over layer after layer. During the process each painting transforms from an image into something that holds life. My finished paintings have souls.