Welcome to
Russel Fine Art!
Let me design a personalized and beautiful piece of artwork for your home that your family will love!
Three new works on display!
Auric Gallery just opened its new exhibition at Ross Studios in Colorado Springs! I have three new paintings along with dozens of other phenomenal works by fellow Colorado artists! This exhibition will be showcased for the next three months. Come meet the artists and chat with me during the Artist's Meet-and-Greet on April 18th, 3-4:30!
"I Solemnly Swear" - New print based from my commission to celebrate the
50th Anniversary of women at the U.S. Air Force Academy!
Check out my Etsy site for loads of merch, including prints, t-shirts, totes, mugs, coasters, and pillows!
https://www.etsy.com/shop/RusselFineArt
"CONTACT ME" to get 10% Off Your Next Commission!
Russel Fine Art is open for commissions! Order your own distinctive painting for birthdays, anniversaries, retirements, and other special occasions! A beautiful painting is a perfect gift to brighten up your home!
Click "Contact Me" in the Menu Item and fill our your info to get 10% off your next commission.
I'll also sign you up for my newsletter, where you'll get the latest information on my new works and upcoming events!
Testimonials
Hear from My Wonderful Customers!
"I am so impressed by the work Mike Russel painted for me! I've been seeing Mike post his artwork on Facebook for many months now, and I knew I wanted to have one for myself! I asked Mike for a classic Texas landscape with flowers, oak trees, hillsides, streams, and maybe even a barn. I sent him several photos of similar paintings, and he sent several in return, as we traded ideas. In the end, Mike did a brilliant composition that captured everything I wanted. Love this painting! Thanks so much, Mike!"
John N,
Austin, Texas
"Michael painted a gorgeous 30x40 rendition of the Garden of the Gods for us. He gave us several smaller renditions to look at where we asked him to adjust for certain colors. He did a wonderful job and his painting sits with a place of honor on our living room wall. We love our painting!"
A.J. & Linda M,
O'Fallon, Illinois
"I love my Manitou Springs commission from Mike Russel (Russel Fine Art)! First, I asked Mike to paint something similar to another painting of his, and we worked closely together to make it perfect for my home and my tastes. I really enjoyed how he did those fast-moving videos, so I could see my painting being created in real time! His painting turned out wonderfully! Couldn't be happier with the experience!"
Carolyn B,
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Frequently Asked Questions
Helpful Information - Prices and Sizes!
Oil Painting Commission - Prices & Process
How are commission prices determined?
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Commission pricing is generally based on canvas size, complexity, and the number of subjects included in the painting. Current pricing for original oil paintings begins at approximately $2 per square inch, which is consistent with many contemporary intermediate-level fine artists.
Standard Painting Sizes & Prices
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8 x 10 inches$350
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11 x 14 inches$550
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18 x 24 inches$950
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24 x 30 inches$1,500
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24 x 36 inches$1,750
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30 x 30 inches$1,800
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30 x 40 inches$2,400
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36 x 48 inches$3,500
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Prices do not include shipping within the continental United States.
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Prices do not include applicable sales tax.
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Portrait commissions include one subject. Additional subjects are $50 each.
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Because each commission is unique, final pricing may vary depending on complexity, custom requirements, or framing preferences.
What is the commission process?
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A 50% deposit is due at the start of the project. Once the deposit is received, I will create up to three preliminary compositional sketches to explore the direction of the painting.
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After a sketch is selected and approved, work will begin on the final painting.
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Additional sketch revisions beyond the initial three are available for $50 per sketch.
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The remaining balance is due prior to shipment.
How long does a commission take?
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The sketching and painting process typically takes approximately four weeks, depending on the size and complexity of the work.
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Because oil paint cures slowly, finished paintings generally require an additional 3–6 months of drying time before final varnishing and shipment. Once fully cured, the painting is varnished to protect the surface and enhance the depth and richness of the colors.
How do I choose the right painting size?
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When considering a commissioned painting, it can be helpful to think about:
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Where the artwork will be displayed
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The overall dimensions of the wall space
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Existing furnishings or architectural elements
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Desired mood and viewing distance
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Whether the painting will be framed
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If framing is planned, allow approximately 2.5–3 inches per side for the finished framed dimensions.
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I am always happy to discuss sizing recommendations and placement considerations during the planning process.
Can paintings be customized to match a room or interior?
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Yes. Many collectors choose to coordinate aspects of a painting with the atmosphere or palette of a particular space. During the consultation process, we can discuss:
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lighting conditions
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room colors
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furnishings
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overall mood
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desired emotional tone
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The goal is to create a painting that feels personally meaningful while also harmonizing beautifully within its intended environment.
Do you work from photographs?
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Yes. Reference photographs are often used as a starting point for commissioned work, particularly for portraits, commemorative paintings, and meaningful locations. Multiple reference images are especially helpful when available.
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Whenever possible, I also draw upon direct observation, personal experience, and artistic interpretation to create a painting that feels atmospheric, expressive, and emotionally authentic.
Mike is now selling Prints & T-Shirts on Etsy!
Mike now has his Etsy shop, so you can purchase your own print of many of Mike's original work! Mike is even selling t-shirts - so many sizes and colors with separate mens and women's cuts. Prints and t-shirts are an affordable way of owning your own piece of Russel artwork!
https://www.etsy.com/shop/RusselFineArt
About the Artist:
Michael J. Russel
Michael Russel is a Colorado Springs-based artist and graduate of the United States Air Force Academy, Class of 1987. Following a distinguished 20-year career as a United States Air Force officer and combat pilot with more than 4,200 flight hours, he has continued serving in senior leadership roles supporting national security, aerospace, satellite, and space operations programs. He currently works in portfolio and engineering program management supporting advanced space and launch communication systems.
Since returning to Colorado Springs in 2018, Russel has focused professionally on oil painting, developing an atmospheric and interpretive style centered on themes of memory, legacy, service, landscape, and institutional history. His work frequently explores the emotional and cultural connections between people, place, and shared experience, particularly within the landscapes and communities of the Rocky Mountain region and the United States Air Force Academy.
Russel’s work has been featured in juried exhibitions at Auric Gallery and in curated regional exhibitions in Colorado Springs. He has also created commemorative works for United States Air Force Academy alumni organizations and charitable initiatives, including anniversary paintings commissioned and donated in support of Academy class fundraising efforts.
His painting Aspen Turning was selected by the Colorado Springs Chorale as a commemorative presentation honoring longtime Music Director and Conductor Deborah Jenkins Teske upon her retirement in 2022.
"I Solemnly Swear," created to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of Women at the United States Air Force Academy, reflects both Russel’s artistic practice and his longstanding personal connection to the Academy community. His wife, Kate (Jackson) Russel, Class of 1988, and daughter, Capt. Rachel E. Marron, United States Air Force, Class of 2019, are also graduates of the Academy.
