Cynthia Russell uses watercolors and gouache to create pieces that combine abstract and realistic elements. She is inspired by the Winooski River, which she can see from her studio in Montpelier. The colors and shapes of nature show up in her work in a colorful, minimalist style. As a former English teacher, she likens her art process to writing.  

Previously teaching at Spaulding High School and the Community College of Vermont and working in corporate relations for Green Mountain Power, Cynthia began creating art in 2016. She studied at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts and the School of Visual Arts. Since then, her confidence has grown, and she enjoys experimenting with new materials and techniques. But, in one way or another, she always returns to aspects of the river with its ever-changing themes.  

Inspired by artists such as Elaine de Kooning, Lee Krasner, and Joan Mitchell, Cynthia fondly recalls hitchhiking around Europe in 1969 in a miniskirt and high-heeled loafers, carrying a Samsonite suitcase.