Russell Merritt loves all things Asian. His interest began when he was in the Navy in the 1970s and it turned into a
fascination with Japanese art. He moved to Newark in 1989 (to be near his parents who live in Zanesville) and became the area's
foremost expert in the Japanese art form of sumi, which is ink painting. "There are so many different layers to the Japanese
culture that are so fascinating,"
Russell teaches Sumi-e, Kanji, and Manga in classes and workshops all over Ohio and his art has won awards and is in
galleries throughout central Ohio.