SUSAN'S . . . PLAYING AGAIN!

Arc to the Sky                                                                       I am pleased to announce I have two pastels in Randy  Higbee's Gallery 12th Annual 6" Squared Exhibit . These and all other artwork may be view here .  And art is a wonderful Christmas gift to all! This is a combined Live Show and Online Show and Shrub + Sky is on both, whereas Arc to the Sky is online.  Shrub + Sky                                                                                                                   ...

  VIEW ATOP  6"h x 9"w pastel  11"h x 14"w black frame, white mat, glass Sold - Private Collector Chilly yet a sunny day . . . so reminiscent of my time spent at the Petrified Forest National Park during a past residency. Views were breathe taking. And the colors were as crisp as the air!

 Dunes at Dusk, Hidden Joshua & Red Spires 6" x 6" acrylics Custom recycled pallet frames $175 each Pictured are the 3 acrylics juried into the 26th Annual Gateway to the  Rockies  Art Show . The exhibit opens today with a reception from  5-7:30pm and the event is at the Community College of Aurora within  the Fine Arts Building. My 3 acrylics are included within the miniatures and priced at $175  each. The frames are custom, recycled pallet wood made by my  husband, Dave.  The first, Dunes at Dusk , is an image form the Desert Dairy Farm of  Twenty-nine Palms, CA during my 2021 Artist Residency. The  middle, Hidden Joshua , is from the Joshua Tree National Park and  the final, Red Spires , is of Abiquiu, NM.   Please contact the Aurora Artists Guild for more information or  purchase by clicking here .

HIDDEN JOSHUA 6" x 6" acrylic  Hidden Joshua and 2 other miniature acrylics -which I'll post later-   will be on exhibit at the 26th Annual Gateway to the Rockies   from November 5th thru December 3rd and held by the Aurora  Artists Guild.  More information can be seen by clicking here . 

A POCKET OF CORAL 4 1/2" x 4 1/2" pastel 8" square archival white matte, glass + gold leaf frame The day came to an end. Down the sun dropped below the Forest's horizon. Away went the blue skies while the clouds were heavy. And nestled amongst all was a patch of coral.

2 Lotus Buds 11"h x 14"w pastel This little scene is on exhibit at the Van Vleck House & Gardens  of Montclair, New Jersey for the Catharine Lorillard Wolfe Art Club   Members' Show.  Humbled and a honor to be a juried member of this 124th year organization!  

HIDDEN JOSHUA  6" x 6" acrylic on canvas This petite gem is one of three going to Aurora Colorado for the 26th Annual Gateway to the Rockies Art Show .  So excited!

RED + BLAZING 4 1/2" x 4 1/2" pastel mat, glass + black frame $150 + $15 shipping ( tax inclusive)   Just revisited this petite, blazing pastel when Patrician Design sent out a mailer.  Love the heat! 

 CLOUD BURST  Sold - Private Collector So happy when my little ones go to new homes! And this acrylic cloud burst was painted on reclaimed  block of wood.

  AS THE BLUE SETTLES  pastel This sweet small thing has been downtown at Patrician Design . They wanted an image for a mailer so I just revisited it.  Forgot how much I liked it! Simple + subtle.

 RED SPIRES 6" x 6" acrylic on canvas Trekking along a dusty road . . . on a pleasant morning.  Red and orange spires jut up . . . reaching to the sky. Colors and brightness . . .  elevates my moods!

 ORANGE SLANT  24" x 24" pastel with handmade burnt wood frame Sold - Private Collector And the same collector whom purchased  Passing Red ,  purchased this and 3 others.  Surely gives credence to the hard work of an artist! Humbled  . . . and thankful.

 PASSING RED 12" x 12" pastel Sold - private Collector So very proud that Passing Red and four other pastels went onto  a Collector. Always feel so blessed whenever that happens!

MINI MOUNTAIN 2 3" x 3" acrylic on wood panel black deep-set floater frame $65 + $5 shipping - tax inclusive   I've been thinking small these past few days. Making life simpler. And to travel in my mind to far-a-way places! Sure helps with minor problems, aches and pains. The imagination is truly grand!!

 MINI MOUNTAIN 3" x 3" acrylic on wood black, deep floater frame $65 + $5 shipping - tax inclusive Some days one feels insignificant . . . and small. so much happening, so much activity . . . all around you.  Enjoy it all.

 DUNES AT DUSK 6" x 6" acrylic on wood $95 - tax and shipping inclusive Above is an acrylic of the dunes at the Desert Dairy Farm at dusk. The palette of colors is much different than I typically use, but  love the feeling! And I loved climbing up to the top of the dunes.  The view was incredible! Below are two pictures with the one on the left showing the  entrance to my little space at the Farm. And the right shows  the interior. Small but just right!

JOSHUA BOULDERS 6" x 6" acrylic on wood $95 - * tax and shipping inclusive   Here is an acrylic created depicting the mountainous range at the Joshua Tree National Park in California. Many opportunities for an individual to hike on trails with incredible views.  Also, here is the video created by Ted Meyer of my residency at Twentynine Palms, CA.  This video covers the installation at the Desert Dairy Farm of the painted Desert Sculpture,  a Kickstarter project  and created art during my stay. Incredible experience and I thank all of my supporters, Anna Stump and Ted Meyer of the Desert Dairy Farm!

A JOSHUA 10" x 10" acrylic on wooden panel   Well it's been awhile since my last posting and I apologize.  Pinched back nerve - ouch!  So now I'm back and onward with my travels at Twentynine Palms. On my second day of residency at the Desert Dairy Farm, I spent  half of it at the Joshua Tree National Park. Breath-taking!  Above a joshua tree is front-center of the painting. They are truly  amazing and massive in height.  Above is the sculpture I painted prior to arriving at the Farm. Had  only seen pictures of joshua trees, which was used for my painting  source. So happy to see they were actually as I envisioned!

 DESERT DUNES 6" x 6" acrylic on cradled wooden panel One of my favorite places to walk to at the Desert Dairy Farm   was the dunes. They were leading to the top of a hill and the  view was incomparable! Above, DESERT DUNES , is a petite vignette I created while at the Farm.  This was the place I initially would have liked to install the sculpture, but the area was unstable for it continually shifted during sand and  wind storms. Below is a photo of approaching the dunes before walking up to the top.

 PINK BEAUTY 10" x 10" acrylic on cradled wooden panel Sold - Private Collector During my residency I spent two afternoons at the Joshua Tree  National Park. Above is a scene from there.  Was fascinated with the Joshua trees with their shaggy bark.  This was quite a departure for me with a predominate pink palette. Kind of grooving on it too. And an added plus is this went to a local collector, so I get to  visit the painting! Always nice to have that opportunity and see a  piece with fresh eyes.

 Desert Pastel 5" x 5" pastel on wood panel Above, Desert Pastel , is the first piece of art and only pastel that I created while at the Farm. It was Saturday, February 13th at 6 am, with the chilled winds moving  with alarming speed throughout the sky.   The afternoon of the day prior, I drove up to the  Desert Dairy Farm  with my sculpture strapped onto the  front and back seats. Curiosity and anticipation of  what was in store for me with this residency. Anna Stump, co-founder of the Desert Dairy Farm gave me a grand tour of the facilities and grounds.  Below is a front view of the barn, where I spent much time during the day.

  A GOLDEN GLOW 6" x 6" acrylic on wood panel Private Collector Upon arrival at the Desert Dairy Farm, I was immediately given  a tour of the 5 acres. Such diversity between the mountain ridges  and the oasis! And colors that I did not envision for a desert.  Above, A Golden Glow , is a rendition of the view from the barn  leading to the town of Twentynine Palms. Below is a sample  of what I saw.  One of my goals was to punch up my color palettes, so during my stay, I painted small vignettes and experimented. Felt  I succeeded with A Golden Glow . 

GATEWAY 6" x 6" acrylic on wood panel Private Collector Silence . . . returned. Many know that I returned nearly 3 weeks ago from an art  residency at the Desert Dairy Farm in Twentynine Palms, CA.  It has been a moving experience, plus the knowledge I gleamed  from the coordinated Kickstarter project was invaluable. Since  my time was consumed with the project, I was silent.  And now is the time for me to write this experience. Above, GATEWAY , is an acrylic of the entryway to the Farm, so felt it was fitting for the start of my journey. The viewer is actually  looking outward from the Farm's entrance and this is a scene  during a high-wind storm, which prevailed for 2 1/2 days.  All background scenery was obscured resulting in an eery effect.  

 A DRAMATIC MORNING 6" x 6" pastel Sold - Private Collector So very fortunate for sales during the holiday season and pictured  is one of them!  I am every so grateful for art patrons and each sale, which helps in  keeping the artist alive. And touching to know that it will hang in  someone's home to cherish.  Many thanks!

  DESCENDING PURPLES 6" x 6" pastel  10" square white mat, glass + black frame $175 + $20 shipping - sales tax inclusive Cold is coming and perhaps some rain and snow.  Descending Purples depicts the feeling abound.  Where is summer?

WEDNESDAY THE KICKSTARTER BUDGET GOAL WAS MET! STANDING HAND-PAINTED JOSHUA TREE BLOCKS acrylic on recycled wood block -  *one of Kickstarter rewards Today has been truly a monumental day in many ways.  With the support and funding from family, friends and art lovers my  Kickstarter budget was met - 10 days prior to the ending of the project.   Truly amazing and I'm so very grateful! Monies still may fund the project with 100% of that amount to be donated to the Desert Dairy Farm to aid future art residents. You can see more about the Desert Dairy Farm by clicking here . And to donate to my Kickstarter project click now .  

 JUST A HOUSE 7" x 7" pastel 10" x 10" mat, glass + black frame  $225 + $20 shipping - tax inclusive A new year, a new hope and safe days ahead! May a white cloud of hope hang over your home.

   A hop, skip, jump away till I go to my residency at the Desert Dairy Farm ! So close, yet still a ways away.      I created a project for this very residency, which a slice of the maquette (model) is illustrated and to the right here. This will be a 3-sided public art sculpture that will top nearly seven feet at completion. It will be fabricated out of wood and installed on the grounds at the Desert Dairy Farm during the mid-February residency.    I've also started a Kickstarter project to enable the sculpture to come to fruition. This is an international platform that aids artists in budgeting projects. And I'm pleased to report in two weeks time the project is 86% funded, yet this is an all or none fund, i.e. all the budget has to be collected or the project is struck down. If any monies are collected above the budget amount, I will be donating at 100% to the Desert Dairy Farm to aid future residents.  Please read a detail description ...