I trained at Chelsea School of Art, graduating with an honours degree in the late 80's. This prestigious college boasts some extremely high profile tutors such as Henry Moore, Ceri Richards, Graham Sutherland and Howard Hodgkin, although I have to admit, not while I was there. Now, with 30 odd years experience in graphic design, I'm returning to painting again - with hand painted portraits from photos.

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As you can see, my painting style has a fairly bold and illustrative feel, which draws on a variety of influences ranging from traditional portrait painting to more quirky genres such as animation and the graphic novel.

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I try and give my acrylic pet portraits soul. They are always painted with TLC, and I hope this is clear to see in the finished work. 

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I've always been attracted  to well drawn cartoons and often find serious pencil studies I work on developing into caricatures - unintentionally. When I was doing my art foundation in Bedfordshire, way back when, one of the tutors said you could always tell the cartoonists in the room, because they could keep drawing the life model even when they'd left the room for lunch! It's a different way of observing, but it all helps keeping the eye in for painting portraits as well as personalised caricatures from photos.

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If you'd like to see a friend or family member or even yourself captured for all eternity in paint or pencil, then do please drop me a note at hello@carlrussellart.com or maybe go old school, and give me a call on 01525 383707