Today we’d like to introduce you to Russell Beans.
Hi Russell, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I’ve been drawing as long as I can remember. My mom would sit and draw with me as a kid and always encouraged me to keep creating. When I was 12 I got my first issue of Thrasher magazine and that was a pivotal moment for me. I became obsessed with skateboarding. There was a constant flow of new artwork to digest. I would draw skate logos and board graphics over and over in my notebooks. The graphic style, typography and overall feel carried over into my work and is still present in my recent pieces. From there, I began surfing and spent as much time as possible in the water. Thats when I started blending my love of the natural world with the illustrative style I was practicing.
When I was 20 my cousin introduced me to screen printing and I instantly fell in love with the medium. He showed me the basics and then I began the process of teaching myself how to print. It can be a long and frustrating process at times, but when you pull up the screen and see the print staring back at you there’s nothing else like it.
After moving to Miami, I was living much farther west than I had been and it was a pretty far drive to the beach. Instead, I began venturing out into the Everglades. It’s such a unique environment teeming with life. After every trip, I would come home and draw for hours influenced by everything I’d seen. I began to focus more on line work and it translated well into what I was doing with screen printing. Over time my style began to emerge.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It’s been a journey. Like most things there have been ups and downs. Despite all that, drawing and especially printing have always been my way to clear my head. I try to create something new everyday. When I decided that I wanted to pursue art as a career, I knew it would be worth it. I just didn’t anticipate how long it would take to get to where I am. I’ve worked all kinds of jobs. Coming home after, staying up late trying to complete my own projects or project for clients. I did that for many years. Learning how to balance family, work and my artistic pursuits took some time to figure out.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Similar to the griffins and hybrid creatures I’m known for, I try to combine all my interests into my work. It’s a mixture of Florida wildlife, folklore, skateboarding, punk rock and as many little details as I can fit into a piece. These same themes seem to resonate with others and seeing that encourages me to continue creating.
What does success mean to you?
Success to me is being able to do what I love, support my family, and share my work with the world.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://rbeansillustration.bigcartel.com/
- Instagram: @are.beans
