My name is Justin David Russell. I am a freelance illustrator working out of Cincnnati, Ohio. I graduated in 2006 from the Columbus College of Art and Design.with a bachelor's degree in Illustration. Prior to attending CCAD I spent two years at the University of Cincinnati in their Design Architecture, Art and Planning college majoring in Fine Arts.

I work almost exclusively in traditional materials but have professional training in the entire Adobe Suite, Quark, and Freehand. My imagery focuses on the fantastic, exploring themes revolving primarily around Indo-European myth and faerie-tale. I have spent the past two and half years working professionally with an English sole-playing game company, Triple Ace Games, as an illustrator.

Media I use: graphite, charcoal, pen/brush and ink, oil paint, watercolour, and digital media

"Ighild's Lament "

Charcoal on Canson paper

6" x 8 3/4"

Growing up I paid attention to certain illustratours. As I got older, this list grew. I will provide here a list of all the people whom I admire and whose own work has shaped mine:

Larry Elmore, Michael Whelan, Keith Parkinson, Darrell K. Sweet, N.C. Wyeth, Maxfield Parrish, Arthur Rackham, Edmund Dulac, Warwick Goble, Larry and Patricia MacDougall, The Dillons, Stephen Fabian, Brian Froud, Alan Lee, John Howe, Frank Frazetta, Michael Hague, Virgina Lee, Tony Di Terlizzi, The Brothers Hildebrandt, Charles Vess, Rebecca Guay, Kinuko Y. Craft, David T.Wenzel, Daniel R. Horne, Joseph Clement Cole.

These are most of my influences, at least the ones who have made the most difference. Highlighted are the artists whose work influenced my own most.