“This year, not being able to actually go anywhere, I decided to virtually revisit several places I had previously traveled to in person by ‘walking’ through them online with Google Street View,” art professor Doug Russell said.
Russell used to travel internationally after classes ended in the spring. For his new “travelling” Russell saves the URLs of locations he finds interesting so he can revisit the places.
“I chose places that I had been to but had not been able to draw on location when I was there in person because of bad weather, not enough available time, or not feeling well that day. I ‘traveled’ to several locations in Indonesia, Venice, Cambodia, and Peru.
It was a workable and welcome substitute for the moment and resulted in several ‘virtual on-location’ drawings. These drawings were then shared with a growing online community also focused on virtual travel drawing during the pandemic,” Russell said.
Virtual Travel Drawing of Venice, Italy. Photo submitted by Doug Russell 
Virtual Travel Drawing of Machu Pichhu, Peru. Photo submitted by Doug Russell 
Virtual Travel Drawing of Gunung Kawi, Bali, Indonesia. Photo submitted by Doug Russell 
Virtual Travel Drawing of Cusco, Peru. Photo submitted by Doug Russell
Russell has also found inspiration locally. He said during the summer and fall he hiked.
“Inspired by these long hikes in the mountains, I started a new series of drawings of fallen trees and branches,” Russell said. “Though at first these seemed like a conceptual departure from my previous architectural drawings I soon realized that they were still meditations on ruin, renewal, and transition just in a more natural form,” Russel said.
Study of Fallen Branches drawn during a hike through Vedauwoo. Photo submitted by Doug Russell 
Study of Fallen Branches on the North Fork Trail, Snowy Range. Photo submitted by Doug Russell 
Study of Fallen Branches on the North Fork Trail, Snowy Range. Photo submitted by Doug Russell 
Study of Fallen Branches on Reynolds Hill, Vedauwoo. Photo submitted by Doug Russell
Russell’s art can be viewed on his instagram at https://www.instagram.com/dougrussellart/.
“The only piece of wisdom I think I have gained so far is to realize that each and everything one does is the most important thing at that moment and completely unimportant at the same time. When I am teaching for example, it is the most important and meaningful thing for me and the students at that moment. But within the largest context of our universe, it is but a blip on speck in a corner of a vast reality,” Russell said.
Russell has been able to teach classes in person with masks and social distancing. He’s set his classes so that students watch lectures online before the class.
“I have also allowed students who must remain online for a while or the whole semester to attend my classes this fall 2020 and spring 2021 semesters. I think it is the only responsible and kind thing to do these days. I do my best to make sure they get the same level of support and guidance as the students able and willing to attend class in person,” Russell said.
Russell said the online classes have been a silver linings in the pandemic.
