Russell Raethka, whose Cedar Keyhole Gallery building painting you see on the top of this website, spent 33 years in education, 19 of those years as a high school principal in upstate New York. His father was a high school art teacher and was the inspiration Russell needed to get his art career started late in his education career. For the most part, art took a back seat to being a principal.

After retirement Russell joined an Art Guild in Oneonta, New York where he presented watercolor paintings of many of the notable buildings in the city.  He found some success in selling his paintings and soon accepted a number of commissions to paint historic buildings, churches, and large homes.

Upon moving to Florida, Russell joined the Cedar Keyhole Art Cooperative. At this time he became serious about his career as an artist and honed his skills working mostly with watercolors. He enjoys the way watercolors bring to life the many seascape scenes that Cedar Key offers.  He is still commissioned to paint various buildings and water scenes.

Russell is also an avid fisherman, so it was only natural that he enjoys painting fish. He paints watercolors of fish he has caught, cuts them out and mounts them on burlap and frames them. When the fish aren't biting, Russell can always paint one. Click on images below to enlarge.

You can view Russ's work at the Keyhole or e-mail for more information.