Dr Ann Russell is a former classroom art teacher who has been working as a professional artist for more than 20 years. She works mainly in mixed media, often beginning with watercolor as she loves the beautiful colors and textures possible with this medium. She also makes 3 dimensional sculptures using assemblage, polymer clay and resin, specialising in what she calls 'Aislingariums' (Ashlingariums) based on the Irish Gaelic word for 'vision' or 'dream'. She has numerous qualifications in art, including a Doctor of Creative Arts which she completed in 2021. She works from her home studio in a leafy suburb of north-west Brisbane.
Ann is inspired by her felt relationship with nature, and her concern for the environment as an extension of herself. This emphasis is a feature of all of her work, often taking on emphases relating to feminine spirituality. She enjoys experimenting and has moved from realistic representative work to more abstract creations where she allows the artwork to evolve more organically. Using bright pigments resembling the beautiful watery colors of silk painting, her watercolor-based works are often added to with ink, coloured pencil, collage and resin to create magical and surreal narratives.
Ann's work is characterised by bright colors and intense texture, hoping that her artwork will captivate and intrigue audiences to develop their own meaning. Having finished her study, Ann is hoping to work more consistently on her nature-based practice and aims to exhibit at least once a year going forward.