Russell Chatham
Encyclopedia
Russell Chatham is a contemporary American
landscape artist living in Livingston, Montana
. The artist is the grandson of landscape painter Gottardo Piazzoni
, though he is essentially a self-taught artist. His work has been exhibited in over 400 one man shows and in museums and galleries over the last five decades. Notable art critic Robert Hughes
is numbered one of Chatham's collectors and there are others as diverse as Paul Allen
and actor Jack Nicholson
. Chatham's work eschews the narrative tendency of much western art and presents landscapes that stand in intimate relationship towards the human figure even in the absence of it. In the early 1980s Chatham began making lithographs and now stands as one of the world's foremost practitioners of that craft.
In addition to Lithography
, Chatham also produces original oil paintings. His oil paintings currently sell for tens of thousands of dollars, and there is a multi-year waiting list for commissions, but according to his dealers, he prefers printing lithographs as the more challenging art form. (Longtime Livingston residents can recall a time when early in his career Chatham traded his canvases for essential services in a barter arrangement.) Despite being a print, Chatham's lithographs have little to do with modern process lithography, which always starts from a photograph and typically only uses 4 colors. His art litographs may have 30 or 40 different layers of color, all of which have to be hand drawn on to the printing plate, and the colors selected for the final effect. To see some of the early proofs of one of his prints is to see a study in vivid and unusual colors from which it is almost impossible to conceive of the final subtle shadings and quiet colors.
In addition to his work as a painter, Chatham has also published a series of short stories "Dark Waters" in which he details the exploit of his hunting friends, like the author Jim Harrison
. The stories are Rabelaisian, vulgar, and exquisitely written (one suspects with a little help from his literary friends).William Hjortsberg
disputed this during a presentation in Livingston on 9/12/2008. "He is quite a good writer in his own right," Hjortsberg said. They center on hunting, food , wine and life changes.One story centers around preparing roast duck on an annual outing devoted solely to excess.
Many of Chatham's painted works have adorned the covers of Harrison
's works.
Russ is an accomplished fly fisherman and author of fishing related histories, articles and books, having been feted by the Northern California Council Federation of Fly Fishermen by including him in their Hall of Fame. His works of non fiction include The Angler's Coast, and Striped Bass on the Fly.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
landscape artist living in Livingston, Montana
Livingston, Montana
-Geography:Livingston is located at , at an altitude of 4.501 feet .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which, of it is land and 0.38% is waters.-Climate:-Demographics:...
. The artist is the grandson of landscape painter Gottardo Piazzoni
Gottardo Piazzoni
Gottardo Fidele Piazzoni was a Swiss-born American landscape painter, muralist and sculptor of Italian heritage, a key member of the school of Northern California artists in the early 1900s....
, though he is essentially a self-taught artist. His work has been exhibited in over 400 one man shows and in museums and galleries over the last five decades. Notable art critic Robert Hughes
Robert Hughes (critic)
Robert Studley Forrest Hughes, AO is an Australian-born art critic, writer and television documentary maker who has resided in New York since 1970.-Early life:...
is numbered one of Chatham's collectors and there are others as diverse as Paul Allen
Paul Allen
Paul Gardner Allen is an American business magnate, investor, and philanthropist. Allen co-founded Microsoft with Bill Gates...
and actor Jack Nicholson
Jack Nicholson
John Joseph "Jack" Nicholson is an American actor, film director, producer and writer. He is renowned for his often dark portrayals of neurotic characters. Nicholson has been nominated for an Academy Award twelve times, and has won the Academy Award for Best Actor twice: for One Flew Over the...
. Chatham's work eschews the narrative tendency of much western art and presents landscapes that stand in intimate relationship towards the human figure even in the absence of it. In the early 1980s Chatham began making lithographs and now stands as one of the world's foremost practitioners of that craft.
In addition to Lithography
Lithography
Lithography is a method for printing using a stone or a metal plate with a completely smooth surface...
, Chatham also produces original oil paintings. His oil paintings currently sell for tens of thousands of dollars, and there is a multi-year waiting list for commissions, but according to his dealers, he prefers printing lithographs as the more challenging art form. (Longtime Livingston residents can recall a time when early in his career Chatham traded his canvases for essential services in a barter arrangement.) Despite being a print, Chatham's lithographs have little to do with modern process lithography, which always starts from a photograph and typically only uses 4 colors. His art litographs may have 30 or 40 different layers of color, all of which have to be hand drawn on to the printing plate, and the colors selected for the final effect. To see some of the early proofs of one of his prints is to see a study in vivid and unusual colors from which it is almost impossible to conceive of the final subtle shadings and quiet colors.
In addition to his work as a painter, Chatham has also published a series of short stories "Dark Waters" in which he details the exploit of his hunting friends, like the author Jim Harrison
Jim Harrison
James "Jim" Harrison is an American author known for his poetry, fiction, essays, reviews, and writings about food. He has been called "a force of nature", and his work has been compared to that of William Faulkner and Ernest Hemingway...
. The stories are Rabelaisian, vulgar, and exquisitely written (one suspects with a little help from his literary friends).William Hjortsberg
William Hjortsberg
William "Gatz" Hjortsberg is a novelist and screenwriter best known for writing the screenplays of the movies Legend and Angel Heart....
disputed this during a presentation in Livingston on 9/12/2008. "He is quite a good writer in his own right," Hjortsberg said. They center on hunting, food , wine and life changes.One story centers around preparing roast duck on an annual outing devoted solely to excess.
Many of Chatham's painted works have adorned the covers of Harrison
Jim Harrison
James "Jim" Harrison is an American author known for his poetry, fiction, essays, reviews, and writings about food. He has been called "a force of nature", and his work has been compared to that of William Faulkner and Ernest Hemingway...
's works.
External links
Russ is an accomplished fly fisherman and author of fishing related histories, articles and books, having been feted by the Northern California Council Federation of Fly Fishermen by including him in their Hall of Fame. His works of non fiction include The Angler's Coast, and Striped Bass on the Fly.