Recently, I was commissioned to create a drawing of the late Kyle Rieger for the first annual Seaside Jazz & Blues Festival, which is a benefit for the Kyle Rieger Memorial Scholarship fund. Kyle was an award winning composer, director, and a beloved band director in the Seaside schools, who tragically lost his life in a car accident in 2022. The original drawing was presented to Kyle’s parents, who were in town for the event. Presenting them with the drawing of their son was an emotional moment, and I was honored to be a part of the ceremony.

It was an honor to create this painting commemorating David Leiken’s 52 year career in Portland. From the Paramount to the Roseland, Double Tee and Fastixx, and all the bands from Pleasure to Taxxi, Bonnie Raitt and Curtis Salgado – David Leiken did it all. David founded Double Tee Concerts in 1972, and produced the largest concert event in Oregon history at Autzen Stadium in 1994. He managed the Paramount Theater and the Roseland Theater in Portland, along with founding Double Tee and Fastixx. He also managed numerous artists including Pleasure, Nu Shooz, Shock, Sequel, and Lilla. Thank you to Terry Currier and Bob Ancheta for commissioning me to create this piece of Portland history!

More photos from David Leiken’s retirement party at Oregon Music News, https://www.oregonmusicnews.com/leiken-retirement-photos-2023

A big thank you to Ken Boddie and the Channel 6 team for doing this segment on my Dr. John album cover artwork! This is part of the “Where We Live” series, which focuses on all things local. Check out the video! https://www.koin.com/news/portland/portland-artist-does-cover-for-dr-johns-last-album

I am very honored to have received the Certificate of Merit Award at the prestigious NY Figurative Show at the Salmagundi Club in NYC! The show was held in January 2022, and even though I wasn’t able to travel to the reception, my painting traveled there! Below are the photos from the beautiful space that it was hanging in. For more information on the show and to see all the award winning artwork, visit the Salmagundi website: https://salmagundi.org/2022-scny-figurative/
To read about the painting or to purchase a print, visit my painting page: https://www.dianerussell.net/portfolio/covid-blues/

I’m thrilled that my painting “Covid Blues” has been selected as a finalist in the Portrait Society of America’s Members Only Competition in the “Outside the Box” category! This is the second year in a row that I’ve had a painting place as a finalist in this national competition, and it’s the 4th award for “Covid Blues”! The 60 winners in this category can be seen on the Portrait Society’s Facebook page, and it’s an honor to be included with all of these amazing artists! https://www.facebook.com/portraitsociety/posts/272168508268484

Prints of “Covid Blues” are available! https://www.dianerussell.net/portfolio/covid-blues/