Icons of the West Exhibition

Snow Flurries, Ochoco Ranch
20 x 16, oil

I am honored to announce that Snow Flurries has been selected into the prestigious National Icons of the West Exhibition, to be held at Dana Gallery, 246 N Higgins, Missoula, MT

The jury for this show consisted of five judges including art patrons, professional artists, university faculty and museum personnel.  The judges selected over 100 pieces of work from nationally and regionally acclaimed artists. 
Public opening will be Friday, June 1.  The exhibition runs from June 1 through August 31, 2012
For more information please contact Dana Gallery at 406-721-3154, or info@danagallery.com

Ancestor Series #5 up for bid

Ancestor Series #5

Aren't we all just a little fascinated by the people who came before us?  Native Cultures call them the Ancestors.  We discover tiny hints about their lives in the ancient fresco paintings at archeological sites. 

The Ancestor Series grew out of a fascination in discovering the faces in the stone, images that began to emerge from the textures created on the painting surface.  I start with smooth gessoed 6 inch by 6 inch panels on a 1.5 inch cradle.  I apply tape and additional levels of gesso, then began to mark with a pencil.  As the gesso dries, I search for the suggestion of a face.  When I find it, I start with charcoal sticks followed by oil paint rubbed into the surface. 

At times this approach feels close to what I imagine ancient cave painters did, using the textures of the rock to help suggest their forms.  Don't you wonder what stories this face might have to tell?
 

 

 Click here to bid

Snow at Smith Rocks from The Mountain Series

Snow at Smith Rocks, from The Mountain Series

is now up for bid on eBay

For more information, or to bid on this painting, please click here.

There is a famous rock climbing area nearby that draws people from around the world.  The rocks rise up abruptly from a deep canyon and are rich ochers and reds in the early spring sunlight, as the sun begins to move higher in the sky.  Unfortunately we still deal with the occasional late spring snow that melts away soon enough but leaves a chill in the clear air. 
~Sue

This painting is new from my Mountain Series.  Most of the paintings to date have been large, but I began a new series in smaller "Daily Painting" size formats.

Original oil landscape painting, 5 inches high by 7 inches wide, on gessoed panel, not framed.  Signed with initials lower right.  Signed in full on reverse.  2012.

I hope you enjoy them.  More to come.

Spring Snow

Paintings from the Oregon Outback

suesmithfineart.com

The warm spring sun has melted the snow from the rocks on this high ridge near my house, but has barely touched the snow field.  

5" by 7", oil on gessoed panel, available on auction at eBay here.   SOLD

I have been working on the Mountain Series in large sizes, and thought it would be fun to do a few in the small Daily Painting size for collectors who are interested in smaller work.  I hope you enjoy them as I post a few more for auction over coming weeks. 

~Sue