Today we’d like to introduce you to Joel Russell Huffman.
Joel Russell, we’d love to hear your story and how you got to where you are today both personally and as an artist.
I’ve always loved the creative process and I’ve been drawing for most of my working memory. Although I knew a career in art would be hard, I decided to study art in college. During that time, I had some amazing mentors and got to try my hands at many different mediums. Ultimately, I concentrated in digital media and honed my skills further in grad school. There are countless creative things that one can do with a computer and the skillset feeds into so many amazing industries.
My career as a creative has taken me in a few very different directions. I’ve worked in the automotive industry, the tech industry, exhibit design, and others. I’m a designer today, but most of my professional work doesn’t let me express myself in the same way drawing does. So, in the end, I always come back to illustration, usually pen and ink or digital. Of all the creative outlets, making my own mark on a blank sheet feels the best and where I can be myself the most.
We’d love to hear more about your art. What do you do you do and why and what do you hope others will take away from your work?
I’ve always worked in ink. I love the irreversibility of the process and the deep dark colors only ink can achieve. My main rendering style is hatching, which allows me the flexibility to give depth in a process that is mostly just black and white. Lately, almost in response to the things I love about ink, I’ve switched to digital illustration, where I can easily start with a black page and draw in white.
The things I draw are pretty inconsistent, but mostly I draw animals or the people that are close to me. I’ve illustrated decks of cards, a coloring book, and done plenty of portraits. Art is my outlet, so I tend to draw things that make me happy and I hope everyone takes away the same feeling of joy that I put into my work.
How can artists connect with other artists?
Art definitely shouldn’t be lonely. A big part of being creative is surrounding yourself by the right people. Find those that inspire you or are more experience than you, and learn everything you can from them. Art doesn’t exist in a vacuum, so go find your local art scene and become a part of the community.
Do you have any events or exhibitions coming up? Where would one go to see more of your work? How can people support you and your artwork?
Have a look at either my Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/jrussellhuffman/) or my behance (https://www.behance.net/jrussellhuffman). If you like my work, let me know. I’d love to hear from you.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://jrussellhuffman.com/
- Email: jrussellhuffman@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jrussellhuffman/
- Other: https://www.behance.net/jrussellhuffman
Image Credit:
Joel Russell Huffman
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