Russ Farris

Russ Farris is an artist living in the hot, humid void of South Mississippi where he has began a quest for his personal truth and healing through art-making. Russ is a successful cartoonist/illustrator, having many illustrations in local magazines like Dime and cartoons published in local papers like The Laurel Leader-Call and The Chronicle. In June 2016, Russ received an award for Best Editorial Cartoon in the State at the Mississippi Press Association awards. Russ has been drawing and painting for most of his life. During the 1990s, he published two issues of a comic book called The Mighty Sword of Scruffy. He also illustrated Otha Barham’s book, Here Where We Belong. During most of the following decade, Russ sold paintings of comic book characters at a local comic book shop and did some freelance work. After discovering the work of artist Daniel Johnston around 2009, Russ decided to use his art to work through his struggles with fear and false beliefs. Much of the work displayed in his current exhibit at the University of South Alabama reflects that inner work.