Sue Smith's Studio

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

New "Daily Painting" - Rose Series

David Austin Rose I
7" x 5", oil on panel
$50

I have a lovely old David Austin rosebush in the back yard that has produced wonderful bouquets of flowers for years. Recent harsh winters have taken their toll and I have been painting the roses from last season before the bush completely gives up. These roses have a delicate yellow and pink color with a light old rose fragrance, and I have used them in several large still life paintings. I think they have more personality than the hot-house long stem roses from the flower shop.

If you are interested in adding this painting to a collection or giving it as a gift, please email me and I will send you an invoice through paypal. There will be a nominal shipping charge depending upon where you live. I appreciate your interest!

"I could sure hear you in the book, very upbeat and encouraging...I also loaned your book to my Tucson art teacher and she let another friend of hers read it, too. She’s already doing most of what you suggested...she hates self-promotion like most of us do..." TB, Tuscon, AZ

Book - Ancient Wisdom Emerging Artist: the business plan (not just) for the mature artist

Kindle US Store - Ancient Wisdom Emerging Artist: the business plan (not just) for the mature artist

Kindle UK Store - Ancient Wisdom Emerging Artist: the business plan (not just) for the mature artist

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Snow Flurries, Ochoco Ranch

Snow Flurries, Ochoco Ranch, 20x16 oil

I wanted to describe the sensations of warm and cool - when snow flurries descend from lowering clouds against a landscape that is still reflecting sunlight. I painted the first layers and then scraped them almost completely back to achieve interesting textural effects. As the painting progressed so did the the background hills, increasing in both number and height, creating a far more dramatic scene than I had first intended. In fact the inspiration for the final dramatic slant came when I was studying the painting and realized that a cast shadow across the surface from a nearby chair was the perfect addition - go with what you are given - even if the information comes from a chair :)

Monday, January 30, 2012

That Summer When We Walked the Field

I was remembering how in the spring and summer we used to walk the fields. I wanted to paint this with all the warmth of a summer day, the sun off the water, and the feeling of contentment, that earthy sense of belonging to the land, of standing there leaning on the long wooden pole we used for digging rocks and pounding the ground to scare the rock chucks - who were always tunneling and causing difficulties for the flood irrigation.

Friday, December 30, 2011

Winter Creek II

Winter Creek II, 6" x 6" oil on panel

I can't believe it is the end of the year - I have been away from this blog for awhile but wanted to post this little painting as it seems fitting for the Winter Season that is upon us. 2011 has been a good year, and I am looking forward to wonderful experiences in 2012 - for all of you as well!

Highlights for me were definitely getting into the NOAPS, the AIS and the American Women Artists shows - and winning an Award of Excellence from Scott Christensen at the American Impressionist Show. Another thrill was receiving an email from a past United States Poet Laureate telling me how much he enjoyed one of my paintings. Also the release of my book Ancient Wisdom Emerging Artist (available on Amazon and Kindle - I know, blatant plug)

Thank you all for dropping in from time to time. And for leaving comments :)

Here's to a Happy - and Creative - New Year!

Friday, October 14, 2011

Lodgepole Pines

Lodgepole Pines are also known as Tamarack Pines or Sierra Lodgepole Pines. In our forests they are generally tall, thin, and fire adapted - which means that they need fire to regenerate. This makes them a mixed blessing - they grow in dense stands, and thin out naturally, leaving a lot of dry wood on the ground, while their tall crowns allow fire to move quickly from tree to tree. But they also regenerate quickly in the burn area, providing habitat and preventing soil erosion. The Lodgepole Pine is named for the common use by Native Americans in the construction of their lodges. Strong, naturally straight and light weight, many tribes traveled long distances to the mountainous areas where they could obtain the wood.

What draws me to this type of subject has always been the conceptual space that exists between and around the objects in the landscape. I often define this space - and the energies that exist there - by the way the light moves through and around the natural features, such as the tree trunks.

I know that I am painting spaces that I want to explore, to discover something that is hovering just beyond my reach that I sense, but can't see. In that regard my paintings are often contemplative. I hope that if you relate to them, you will return again and again to discover something new.

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Re-Exploration of the Ancient Walls Series

Ancient Walls Italian Series: Firenze III
20" x 20", oil, marble dust, gesso, paint detritus on panel

I recently discovered a source for marble dust and dry pigments, called Natural Pigments.

I was actually searching for something else, but came upon the marble dust and remembered an old series that I had abandoned, in part because I could not develop the texture of the surface the way I saw it in my imagination.

I began to re-experiment with adding marble dust to both the gesso and the oil paint. The result produced layers of paint, some transparent, some straight from the tube, some thickened with marble dust