User:Robert Russell Martin

Biography - Robert Russell Martin - Artist (1918-1998) Robert was born in Cleveland, OH in 1918 and was raised by his maternal grandmother who was born in 1867, hence the Victorian Era influence in some of his earlier work. An introspective person not always comfortable in the spotlight, Robert would have shied away from a written artist's statement; therefore, as his wife, I do so only to offer insight into this complicated man and do so respectfully.

Robert's concepts for his paintings were left to the viewer's own subjective experience - often to experience the work of art without an explanation or description. Most relevant to an understanding of Robert's paintings is his collection of art books: from the old masters of Italy, France, Spain to the Dutch Masters; from the Modern Masters of France to the American painters, that he studied at length. He preferred to work from life, whether it was a portrait, still life or a landscape; moreover, he was excited by the interaction and atmosphere of working live. In the 1980s, after he decided he need not be the only purist left in the world, he began to utilize slides, mostly for the night street scenes of Victorian Village (Columbus, OH) and the city construction paintings when he needed accurate representation of architectural detail or construction machinery.

Each decade of his work is distinctively different. Robert was the consummate student; his love of learning kept him fascinated all of his life. He continued to learn, to grow, to experiment with color, atmosphere and subject matter. One constant was his love of and respect for his medium, oil on canvas, although he has been trained in other media, especially water color.

Robert did have a philosophy of art, which was evident to those who knew him well, that he was deeply touched by beauty down to his poetic soul.

Education Born an artist, Robert could draw before he could talk; he drew on the walls, wallpaper, whatever was available and soon after that began his formal education at the Cleveland Museum of Art Saturday morning art classes while still in grade school. As a child, living nearby on Euclid Avenue, the Cleveland Museum became his play ground; he grew up familiar with the great masters of American and European art. Robert studied at the Cleveland School of Art between 1936 and 1941 at the same time he attended Case Western Reserve University to continue his academic studies.

Further Studies Sorbonne University - Paris Academie de la Grande Chaumiere - Paris (1948) Art Student's League - New York City New York Academy of Art and Design - New York City Akron Art Institute - Akron, OH

Private Teachers Greta Kempton Walker (Mrs. Walker painted the presidential portrait of Harry S, Truman) Medina, OH Josie Bilan (Josie studied with Waymon Adams who was a student of Robert Henri.)  Keene, New York

Influenced by: Michelangelo da Caravaggio (1573-1610) (chiaroscuro) Albert Pinkham Ryder (1847-1917) Joseph Mallord William Turner (1775-1851) Portrait Painters: John Singer Sargent (1856-1925) Sir Thomas Lawrence (1769-1830)

Method of Painting Direct Method - Robert painted directly from life imagery starting with a quick umber or sienna wash for placement and then began applying color pigment. He stood, holding his palette, then rapidly moved back and forth to observe his subject and canvas as he painted. This action created energy lending spontaneity and aliveness to his painting. Robert could complete a life size nude in three to five days. His styles included Romantic, Impressionism, and Surrealism.

Periods: 1960s-1970s Still Life (Flowers/Antique Art Objects) Portrait: (Over the years Robert painted probably hundreds of heads from life for practice - sometimes painting as many as six portraits in succession with great speed and accuracy - His fastest time was approximately 17 minutes to complete a painting.)

1970s - 1980s Life Size Nudes Group paintings of life size figures: "Frans Hals and the Hippies" "Circus People"

1980s Victorian Village Street Scenes

1990s Murals: Reproduction of Michelangelo's "Creation of Adam" - Columbus, OH "Ballroom Dancing Figures" at Dance Plus Ballroom - Grandview, OH Surrealism: Construction Sites - "Industrial Strength" "Christopher Columbus Brawling with the New York Yankees"