Diane Russell was born and raised in Portland, Ore. She began to paint while attending Portland State University, and studied illustration at Parsons School of Design in New York.
Many of her paintings reflect her passion for music and dance, as well as people from all walks of life. Using her own photographs as reference, her portraits capture more than a likeness… they go beyond the photograph to bring to light the inner soul. She uses only pure paint with a touch of walnut oil, applying many thin layers to achieve the vibrant and translucent color in her paintings.
Diane lives in Portland. Her clients include the Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise, the Blues Foundation, Pendleton Woolen Mills, and Palmer/Pletsch Publications. Her work appears on the 2005 W.C. Handy Blues Awards poster, CD and book covers, and in private and corporate collections across the country. Diane is a member of the Portrait Society of America, the Blues Foundation, the Cascade Blues Association, and the Jazz Society of Oregon.
Check out more of Diane’s work here.
