OIL ON CANVASUTAH, USA Ronald D. Russon, a Utah native, spent his formative years nestled between the Wasatch Mountains and sprawling farmland in rural Lehi. He and his four brothers were often found labouring for neighbours and relatives, earning a reputation for their work ethic. Despite his manual labour duties, he found time to nurture his artistic talent, doodling during moments of respite.Juggling three jobs, Ron self-funded his education. He attended Utah Valley Community College where he discovered his aptitude for drawing. This led him to Brigham Young University's Illustration Design program. A major car accident hindered his studies, but he returned undeterred, later earning an internship at Illustration House in New York City.After college, Ron pursued a freelance illustration career, gathering a notable client base. However, his rural upbringing constantly drew him back to depictions of farm life and wildlife. His artistic style ranges from tranquil depictions of rural machinery to vibrant, geometric bison. Often set to bluegrass or space-pop music, he skillfully employs a loose brush and palette knife, his work encapsulating both abstraction and realism. Through his art, he explores his deep connection with nature, presenting a unique dialogue between himself and the outdoors. "My process is one of trying to follow inspiration and freedom. I will get an idea about subject matter from all over; ie. hiking, taking photos, looking at reference photos, reading, or just letting my mind wonder. Once I have a subject in mind I prepare the canvas with an old gnarly brush and thick gesso. I try to not have anything in mind other than random and texture. After the surface is prepared I do a series of washes with either oil and turpentine, or acrylic and water. I don't really try to control much other than the color of paint at that point. Then I loosely establish a drawing or placement of the subject. I try not to be detailed at all, just general measurements. Then the fun begins and I start using a pallet knife and mash paint. Once I get into the painting phase it becomes a paint and response process. I allow the painting to "tell" me what to paint and keep going until it feels finished."