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NJ Judge: Bridge case complaint against Gov. Chris Christie can proceed

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Make-Someone-Happy group entertains at Guardian Nursing Home

<p>WEST PITTSTON &#8212; If there is anything Bob Russin knows about himself, it&#8217;s his love of family, his love of art and, above all, his love of God.</p><p>Russin, 68, has a special talent he first discovered around the age of 9. While other children were playing ball in an empty field, watching cartoons, or creating mischief, Bob gravitated toward drawing.</p><p>His art skills grew and by the time he graduated from Central Catholic High School in the late &#8217;60s, he knew he wanted to pursue a career in art. He entered Wilkes College and declared art his major, insuring the rest of his life would be centered on something he loved.</p><p>Upon college graduation in 1971, Russin spent 34 years teaching art at the Wyoming Valley West School District, instructing children from middle school to high school on basic color theory and principles of design.</p><p>Russin dabbled in sketch work and painting with acrylics but his deep passion was creating with pastels.</p><p>When you enter the Russin home along the Susquehanna River, it is filled with his original artwork. Room after room finds framed landscaping scenes of some of Russin&#8217;s favorite places. One particular area where he has duplicated live scenes to canvas is Benton, where he owns a family cottage.</p><p>&#8220;The cottage area is such a beautiful area; you&#8217;re going out there and you know you&#8217;re going to find something,&#8221; Russin said. He uses his cellphone to take photos so he can later choose one to recreate on canvas.</p><p>His artwork is realistic, almost photo-like, emphasizing his mastering of light and shadow. A self-portrait hangs in Russin&#8217;s study and is different from his award-winning pieces. The one hanging in his study is him at age 60.</p><p>&#8220;Every 10 years I do a self-portrait,&#8221; he said.</p><p>Russin is a man of faith and is aware his talent is God-given. He attends Mass daily, maybe because of his upbringing, maybe because of his Catholic school background, but it is exactly where he wants to be.</p><p>When asked about his talents, Russin said: &#8220;If I have stumbled upon a way to arrange some colored marks on a prepared surface in such a fashion so as to create something beautiful and add some joy to this work &#8211; it has only been through the grace of God.&#8221;</p><p>Since his retirement in 2004, his spare time comprises of family time, fly fishing, practicing his faith and creating art.</p><p>Russin anguishes over his art. It is very labor intensive and he could easily spend three hours at a time sitting at his easel drawing, changing and drawing more. Creating a perfect drawing is something he attempts with each project.</p><p>&#8220;Most projects take months, months to finish &#8211; I&#8217;m very deliberate,&#8221; Russin said. &#8220;They are called works of art because I consider it work. I know when I make a commitment; the way I paint, it&#8217;s kind of like starting a novel instead of a short story. I&#8217;m in for a lot of work. Every time I create a piece, I don&#8217;t feel good unless I think it&#8217;s better than the last piece. I&#8217;m not into quantity at all; I&#8217;d rather labor over something until I think I got it right.&#8221;</p><p>Russin&#8217;s work has been exhibited all over the U.S., earning many awards. Last year, his pastel painting, &#8220;Summer Snag,&#8221; received an honorable mention at the International Association of Pastel Societies annual juried exhibition. The IAPS is the top pastel organization in the world.</p><p>&#8220;Summer Snag&#8221; went on to be selected as one of 10 pieces for further distinction in June at the Salmagundi Club in New York City, one of the oldest art organizations in the U.S.</p><p>The accolades did not end for &#8220;Summer Snag&#8221; in NYC. In August it was selected by the Pastel Society of America as one of the top awards out of 1,497 submissions.</p><p>Russin&#8217;s work has also been exhibited on the national level in 2008, 2009, 2012 and 2014.</p><p>He has been exhibited and honored with awards from the National Arts Club and Salmagundi Club, NYC; Maryland Pastel Society, Washington, D.C.; The Mattatuck Museum, Waterbury, Conn.; and the Butler Institute of American Art, Youngstown, Ohio.</p><p><ins>Russin and his wife of 34 years, Mary Therese, also a retired Wyoming Valley West teacher, have two children, Alexandra Russin, 32, and her daughter Lily, 9, of West Pittston; and Michael, 28, Philadelphia.</ins></p><p><ins>See Russin&#8217;s art at www.bobrussinpastel.com where browsers will find his complete biography and portfolio, technique section, complete list of awards, a point of sale page and of course a chance to write to the artists himself.</ins></p><p><ins>Russin doesn&#8217;t plan to down his pastels anytime soon. As he admits, it&#8217;s all up to God.</ins></p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Much of Bob Russin&#8217;s home is decorated with original award-winning pastel art he created over the years. Russin, 68 of West Pittston, stands next to some of his art, all framed and mounted under glass to protect the pastels from smudging. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/web1_Russin1.jpg</photo0><caption0>Much of Bob Russin&#8217;s home is decorated with original award-winning pastel art he created over the years. Russin, 68 of West Pittston, stands next to some of his art, all framed and mounted under glass to protect the pastels from smudging. </caption0><photoCredit0>Tony Callaio | For Times Leader </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/web1_Russin2.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Pastel artist Bob Russin sits in his West Pittston studio during the initial stages of his newest creation. His focus is landscape art specializing in light and shadow. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/web1_Russin2.jpg</photo1><caption1>Pastel artist Bob Russin sits in his West Pittston studio during the initial stages of his newest creation. His focus is landscape art specializing in light and shadow. </caption1><photoCredit1>Tony Callaio | For Times Leader </photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/web1_Russin3.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Russin&#8217;s &#8216;Cave Canem,&#8217; an 18&#8221; x 24&#8221; pastel was a first-place award winner at the Maryland Pastel Society 2015 National Juried Show in Washington D.C. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/web1_Russin3.jpg</photo2><caption2>Russin&#8217;s &#8216;Cave Canem,&#8217; an 18&#8221; x 24&#8221; pastel was a first-place award winner at the Maryland Pastel Society 2015 National Juried Show in Washington D.C. </caption2><photoCredit2>Tony Callaio | For Times Leader </photoCredit2></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/web1_russin4.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Boxed Peppers, a 14&#8221; x 20&#8221; pastel was on display at the Pastel Society of America&#8217;s 40th annual exhibit National Arts Club, in New York City. This piece was inspired by a roadside fruit and vegetable stand in Benton and hangs in the Russin kitchen. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo3>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/web1_russin4.jpg</photo3><caption3>Boxed Peppers, a 14&#8221; x 20&#8221; pastel was on display at the Pastel Society of America&#8217;s 40th annual exhibit National Arts Club, in New York City. This piece was inspired by a roadside fruit and vegetable stand in Benton and hangs in the Russin kitchen. </caption3><photoCredit3>Submitted photo </photoCredit3></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/web1_Russin5.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">This piece, created by Bob Russin, titled &#8216;Summer Snag&#8217; won Honorable Mention at the 28th International Association of Pastel Societies Juried at the Salmagundi Club in New York City in June. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo4>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/web1_Russin5.jpg</photo4><caption4>This piece, created by Bob Russin, titled &#8216;Summer Snag&#8217; won Honorable Mention at the 28th International Association of Pastel Societies Juried at the Salmagundi Club in New York City in June. </caption4><photoCredit4>Tony Callaio | For Times Leader </photoCredit4></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><subheadMeta>Bob Russin has dedicated his life to artwork</subheadMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Tony Callaio</p><p>For Sunday Dispatch</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach the arts and entertainment section at 570-991-6111 or at ae@www.timesleader.com.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Bob Russin, of West Pittston, creates perfect pastels