Russ Fye

Most people who know me through business probably don’t realize that I’m also an artist.

I’ve enjoyed art for many years, both as someone who appreciates the work of others and as someone who creates it.

While I enjoy all kinds of art, I’ve always been particularly drawn to darker, more expressive work. There’s something about art that explores emotion, symbolism, and the more unsettling aspects of the human experience that I find fascinating.

It’s also the kind of art I enjoy creating.

My paintings are influenced by expressionism, outsider art, and the macabre. I enjoy working with raw textures, atmosphere, and imperfections rather than trying to make everything look polished or conventional.

For me, painting is about creating something that makes you feel something, even if that feeling isn’t necessarily comfortable.

A Different Kind of Creative Work

I’ve spent much of my adult life involved in business, marketing, and entrepreneurship.

Today, my wife, Tina, and I devote much of our time to operating Maine Island Soap, our family’s soap company here in Ellsworth, Maine.

Running a business certainly involves creativity. From developing products to designing packaging and finding new ways to reach customers, there’s no shortage of opportunities to think creatively.

But painting offers something different.

When I’m standing at my easel, I’m not concerned with inventory, wholesale orders, or the next day’s responsibilities.

I’m focused on what I’m creating.

Sometimes that involves experimenting with colors and textures. Other times, it’s about trying to capture a particular emotion or atmosphere.

I work primarily with acrylic paints, occasionally incorporating other materials and techniques.

I enjoy the freedom of creating something without having to explain exactly what it means.

I Paint When Inspiration Strikes

One thing I’ve never done is force myself to paint on a schedule.

I might go through periods when I’m particularly inspired and create several paintings. At other times, I may step away from the easel for a while.

And I’m perfectly comfortable with that.

Painting has been an important creative outlet for me for many years, but I’ve never felt that I needed to produce a certain number of pieces or maintain a particular routine.

Each painting exists because I genuinely wanted to create it.

Sometimes I have a clear idea of what I want to accomplish. Other times, the painting develops as I work.

I enjoy that unpredictability.

There’s something satisfying about starting with a blank canvas and allowing an idea to take shape through the process of painting.

And I don’t believe every piece needs to be perfect.

In fact, imperfections are often part of what gives a painting its character.

Finding an Audience for My Work

Over the years, I’ve also had the opportunity to sell my paintings to people who appreciate what I create.

I currently offer my original artwork through eBay under Russ Fye Art.

One of the most rewarding parts of that experience has been developing relationships with collectors who return to purchase additional paintings.

As of today, I have six collectors who have purchased multiple pieces of my artwork.

That means a great deal to me.

Dark art isn’t necessarily going to appeal to everyone, and I’ve never expected it to.

But knowing that there are people who connect with my work enough to bring more than one painting into their homes is genuinely encouraging.

Recently, one returning collector purchased three additional paintings.

I enjoy knowing that something I created here in Maine has found a home with someone who appreciates it.

Every painting I sell is an original, one-of-a-kind piece. Once it’s gone, I won’t create another exactly like it.

There’s something special about that.

Art Doesn’t Have to Become Something Bigger

As someone who has spent much of his life in business, I naturally recognize the possibilities that can come from creating and selling something.

I’ve occasionally thought about what it might look like to devote considerably more time to painting.

Perhaps someday I will.

But right now, I’m content with the role art plays in my life.

I enjoy creating paintings, sharing them with others, and seeing my work find its way into private collections.

I don’t need to approach it with a production schedule, sales targets, or an elaborate business plan.

That would take away some of what I enjoy most about it.

Painting gives me an opportunity to create something simply because I feel inspired to do so.

And I value that freedom.

The Beauty of Art Is That We Don’t All See the Same Thing

One of the things I’ve always appreciated about art is how differently people can respond to the same piece.

A painting that one person finds unsettling might be fascinating or beautiful to someone else.

Someone might see sadness in a particular image, while another person sees strength, mystery, or something entirely different.

I find that interesting.

I don’t necessarily want everyone to look at one of my paintings and come away with the same interpretation.

I’d rather create something that encourages people to look a little longer, think about what they’re seeing, and perhaps discover something they didn’t notice at first.

That’s one of the reasons I’m drawn to expressive, unconventional artwork.

It doesn’t always provide easy answers.

And I don’t think it needs to.

There’s Always Another Blank Canvas

I don’t know exactly where my interest in art will take me in the years ahead.

Maybe I’ll eventually devote more time to painting. Maybe my style will continue to evolve. Maybe I’ll find myself exploring entirely different subjects and techniques.

For now, I’m happy to return to the easel whenever inspiration strikes.

I enjoy the process of creating, the freedom to experiment, and the opportunity to share something personal with people who appreciate it.

And while business occupies much of my time these days, art remains an important part of who I am.

I don’t paint because I have to. I paint because I genuinely enjoy creating something that didn’t exist before, and hopefully something that makes another person feel something, too.