I’ve been aware of Tom Russell for several years, most notably for his version of “Tulare Dust” on the excellent Merle Haggard tribute of the same name in 1994. Today I walked into Rainbow Man, one of my favorite shops and galleries in Santa Fe, right off the Plaza, and was instantly drawn to several large, colorful paintings by the artist Tom Russell. Upon inquiring, it’s the same guy. He started painting in 2003, the shop keeper told me, after doing a few album covers. When he’s not touring with his music, Tom Russell now makes his home outside of Santa Fe.
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