Russell P. Smith
Franklin Galleries is proud to offer fine works of art from North Carolina artist Russell Smith, the nation’s foremost historic preservation artist. Mr. Smith has been recognized internationally for his classic WWI and WWII aviation works of epic battles, celebrated pilots and classic planes. His war-era depictions bring the canvas to life with stunning form and historic significance.
Although Smith’s work is strongly realistic, his intention is not to capture the fine details of a subject, but rather to capture its essence. With strong emphasis on composition, he combines the expressive elements of light, color and line with well balanced design and a dramatic use of darks and lights to create pieces that stimulate the viewer’s eye and imagination.
His work can be seen in many collections, both public and private, around the country and has been recognized by several international publications including Aviation History, Flight Journal, Flying, and Aviation Art. In addition, Russell’s work has been included in many national and international exhibitions including the Icarus Art of Flight Exhibition, the Simuflite/Flying Magazine Horizons of Flight Art Exhibition,and the Istituto D’Arte Dosso Dossi American Exhibition.
Russell has been the recipient of several awards and honors including an Honorable Mention in the Experimental Aircraft Association 1999 Art Exhibition and Honorable Mentions in the Charlotte Art League 1998 Fall Exhibition and 2002 Spring Exhibitions. Russell is also a member of the League of World War 1 Aviation Historians as well as an Artist Member of the American Society of Aviation Artists.
With the awesome responsibility of forever preserving the history and tradition of Carolina, it was imperative to select an artist that could combine historic preservation with artistic mastery. Mr. Smith was the obvious choice and we are honored to partner with such an artist.
William Waters IV
Franklin Galleries is proud to offer fine works of art from North Carolina artist William Waters IV. Mr. Waters has earned acclaim for his unique sepiatic style which characterizes the Franklin Vintage Collection.
Visually stunning, Waters’ works combine meticulous attention to detail with stunning contrast. His works command attention and have been met with rave reviews. His works will be forever cherished by UNC alumni.
Recognized as an interpretative realist, Waters is known for his architectual depictions with creative use of form and light. His best know works outside of the Vintage Collection include ‘Venice Streets’, ‘Raleigh Night’ and ‘Ponte de Rialto’.
The Vintage Collection is completely unique and demanded perfection. Very few artists are capable of the exacting style we required. Mr. Waters’ extensive background and special style made him the perfect fit for Franklin Galleries.