Carmel Mission Woodblock by Listed Artist Shirley Russell 1935

Fine Art : Printmaking : Shirley Russell

 

A beautiful California landscape of the Carmel Mission done in 1935 by listed artist Shirley Russell (1886-1985). A rare depiction by this popular American artist who was best known for her representations of Hawaii. This piece was produced by the Japanese publisher Watanabe Shozaburo in 1935.

Shirley Ximena Hopper Russell, also known as Shirley Marie Russell, was born in Del Rey, California. She graduated in 1907 from Stanford University, where she discovered art. Shirley married Lawrence Russell, an engineer, in 1909. When he died in 1912, she began teaching in Palo Alto, and dabbling in painting. In 1921, she and her son came to Hawaii for a visit and decided to stay. She lived in Honolulu, Hawaii, most of her life working for more than 20 years as an art teacher at McKinley High School. It was here that she launched many young Hawaiian artists into their careers, including Satoru Abe (1926-) and John Chin Young (1909-1997). She also taught art at the University of Hawaii and the Honolulu Academy of Arts.

She studied under renowned marine artist Lionel Walden during the 1920s and traveled to Europe several times to further her art education. She also studied in Paris during the 1930s, and the cubist influence can be seen in a number of her works. Although she painted in a representational style, she was a staunch supporter of abstract art. She continued to paint almost daily until her death in Honolulu in 1985, at the age of 98.

In the course of her art career, Russell had three one-woman exhibitions at the Honolulu Academy of Arts. Her works are in private collections and many public collections such as The Contemporary Museum, Honolulu, the Hawaii State Art Museum, and the Honolulu Academy of Arts.

Signed in pencil in the lower left “Carmel Mission #40/50” and “Shirley Russell” and “S.R.” in the lower right corner. Excellent condition, unframed. Measures 15-1/8" x 11-7/8". Would make a great addition to any Arts and Crafts home or office.

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Item ID: FC000563