May 2014 Newsletter

Black, White, and Bold

I have become a believer in the merits of working in series. Business and marketing aside, creating in a series or theme allows an artist to explore multiple facets of a particular concept. Ideas can be fleshed out more fully with multiple expressions that reexamine the original question.

These two new works belong to Formal Wild, a new series I am introducing. Originally inspired by the background paper, which I had bought for another project, I asked myself, "How in the world am I going to use the rest of this?" these works explore patterns and color of the animal kingdom. I've already chosen many animals for the series (because I just can't stop those gears in my head from turning) and I've discovered in my selection another theme of the formality of wildlife - it's source or illusion thereof, and the juxtaposition of the two terms at opposite extremes - formal, and wild.

While working on this piece I learned the answer to the classic question. The zebra is actually black with white stripes. This can be seen more clearly in aberrantly patterned zebras, the growth of baby zebras in the womb, the black colts of white horse breeds (such as the Lipizzaner,) and in baby tapirs (a relative.)

Ah, the leopard. You beautiful gold cat. Not the leanest, or the strongest, but sitting somewhere somewhat uncomfortably as the savanna's middle child of the ecosystem. The haunting look in your eyes, your grace, your striking spotted coat, and your widespread world presence has given you a firm place in the hearts of human kind, for better or for worse.

Did you notice the background was flipped in these two pieces? I did this deliberately. In the first piece the pattern reminded me of a floral buffalo head, and the design gave a hint of a carousel pole to the zebra. In the second, the upturned leaf shapes looked like eyes and became a mask, and the hanging shape is reminiscent of a chandelier.

Art Students League of Denver

Summer Art Market

Technique Showcase:
Cut Paper Sculpture

July 14th
More information

Whether white-on-white or utilizing the range of handmade papers from around the world, cut paper sculpture produces unique, eye-catching visuals. This little-used medium is gaining in popularity both as an illustration technique and as a fine art medium. I will demonstrate tools for transferring, cutting, gluing, and building armatures and frames. Explore the variety of papers available on the market, and try your hand at folding, scoring, and shaping this very tactile medium.

Tiffany Miller Russell www.wildlifeinpaper.com

New Works

Black, White, and Bold 16" x 12" $1050


I have become a believer in the merits of working in series. Business and marketing aside, creating in a series or theme allows an artist to explore multiple facets of a particular concept. Ideas can be fleshed out more fully with multiple expressions that reexamine the original question. These two new works belong to Formal Wild, a new series I am introducing. Originally inspired by the background paper, which I had bought for another project, I asked myself, "How in the world am I going to use the rest of this?" these works explore patterns and color of the animal kingdom. I've already chosen many animals for the series (because I just can't stop those gears in my head from turning) and I've discovered in my selection another theme of the formality of wildlife - it's source or illusion thereof, and the juxtaposition of the two terms at opposite extremes - formal, and wild. While working on this piece I learned the answer to the classic question. The zebra is actually black with white stripes. This can be seen more clearly in aberrantly patterned zebras, the growth of baby zebras in the womb, the black colts of white horse breeds (such as the Lipizzaner,) and in baby tapirs (a relative.)


Gold and Bold 21" x 12" $1650		Ah, the leopard. You beautiful gold cat. Not the leanest, or the strongest, but sitting somewhere somewhat uncomfortably as the savanna's middle child of the ecosystem. The haunting look in your eyes, your grace, your striking spotted coat, and your widespread world presence has given you a firm place in the hearts of human kind, for better or for worse.

Did you notice the background was flipped in these two pieces? I did this deliberately. In the first piece the pattern reminded me of a floral buffalo head, and the design gave a hint of a carousel pole to the zebra. In the second, the upturned leaf shapes looked like eyes and became a mask, and the hanging shape is reminiscent of a chandelier.



Art Students League of Denver Summer Art Market		Booth #179 June 7th, 10am-7pm June 8th, 10am-5pm 200 Grant St Denver, CO More information


		Art of the Animal Kingdom June 14th - August 24th The Bennington Center for the Arts Bennington, VT More information
Sculpture in the Park August 9th, 9:30am-6pm August 10th, 9:30am-4:30pm Benson Sculpture Park Loveland, CO More information	Admission: Adult $7 14 and under free

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