Art Analysis
What does P. Craig Russell do, and why is it so good?
Russell's art works because he uses a specific style and sticks
with it. Not only that, but he is very picky about his projects and chooses
those that play perfectly to his strengths. This style is not everyone's
cup of tea, nor is it suitable for every story. But no illustrator can
beat Russell at it.
Russell is most influenced by Art Nouveau,
which is defined as "A style of decoration and architecture of the late
19th and early 20th centuries, characterized particularly by the depiction
of leaves and flowers in flowing, sinuous lines." Think
of the Paris Metro signs. Russell's art is reminiscent of Alphonse
Mucha and Maxfield
Parish (images at right.) In fact, he specializes in many
of the same subjects they are known for:
1) The Sinuous Figure
Russell's figures are perfectly outlined, with no distracting filler
or crosshatching. They are long limbed and muscular. The men and women
both are graceful. This made him a perfect choice to draw angels in Murder
Mysteries.
2) Clouds
Russell's clouds are three-dimensional and active. Like the rest of
his art, they're well-defined with crisp edges. You'd think this wouldn't
work for clouds, but somehow it does.
3) Water
Water by Russell is spectacular. Much of his Ring
of the Nibelung happens
in, over, and around water. Look how every drop and wave is delineated,
like a stop-motion photograph.
4) Arabesque & Filigree
Arabesque doesn't just mean in the Arabic style, though Russell mastered
that in Ramadan. (below) Russell also puts
a ton of detail into architecture and decoration of all sorts.
5) Trees, Leaves & Plants
A Batman story about Poison Ivy was the first work of Russell's that
I read, and it was because of his elegant plant drawings.
6) Fantasy
An affinity for fantasy is why Russell works so well with Neil Gaiman.
Look at the little creatures above, or the magical energies soaring through
the air below.
