suzannepaints
Suzanne Stewart, Austin painter, has joined the blogging world. It seems such a stretch, but I would like to share some insights I have gained. My painting experiences have formed a new and exciting path. Please share your comments with me. What will survive of us is love. "Paintings have a life of their own that derives from the painter's soul." Vincent Van Gogh
Thursday, September 18, 2014
ITALIAN HANDBAG
Just before sundown, the chefs go out to get a little fresh air. A scene like this took place in Termezzo on Lake Como.
Labels:
36 X 36,
figurative,
Italian purse,
oil painting
Saturday, September 13, 2014
GUS
Introducing Gus, Strong and Mighty. I have two grand-dogs. Gus is the one I see most often. He is gentle and playful at nearly 10 years of age. So huggable!
Labels:
12 x 12,
oil painting,
pet portrait,
yellow lab
Friday, September 5, 2014
Brown Egg
Another still life featuring the same three 'objets.' As it turns out, my birthday on Wednesday was on the same day as my birth. By that, I mean to say, I am 'Wednesday's Child.' Yes! I was born on a Wednesday. Thank Goodness.
This title is a little misleading, n'est-ce pas? Due to my camera setting, the brown egg is a little orange. Easter egg, maybe.
This title is a little misleading, n'est-ce pas? Due to my camera setting, the brown egg is a little orange. Easter egg, maybe.
Thursday, September 4, 2014
One Fresh Egg
Sunday, August 31, 2014
Carmel Valley
We painted in the beautiful Carmel Valley at the produce market which grows all my favorite greens. What a delight to escape this heat to enjoy temperatures in the 70's. The purple here is a little more vibrant than in my painting but I had a hard time adjusting it. Everybody is Texas should go to California for August. We could trade with the California residents. Then the outdoor painters of California would see why we are so challenged by the heat of summer.
Tuesday, August 19, 2014
'Little Lezzeno'
There is this sweetest of villages on Lake Como. This is another of my 6 x 6 studies completed after we returned home which was scraped away. The burning of the memory is enduring.
Labels:
6 x 6,
Lake Como,
Lezzeno,
oil painting,
Open Air Italy
Monday, August 18, 2014
'Stuck on Rozzo'
Guess you might think I am stuck on this subject matter. In a sense, it is so true. My time spent in this beautiful little alleyway made quite an impression. What I find interesting is that there is enough significance for this neighborhood of maybe 14 homes to have its own sign from the highway. I'm not certain of the special designation but it clearly is special.
I gave myself a limited amount of time to paint this 6 x 6 then forced myself to scrape the entire thing off the canvas. What do you think of that? Gone. But not forgotten.
I gave myself a limited amount of time to paint this 6 x 6 then forced myself to scrape the entire thing off the canvas. What do you think of that? Gone. But not forgotten.
Labels:
6 x 6,
Lezzano,
oil painting,
Open Air Italy,
Rozzo
Tuesday, July 15, 2014
Rozzo in Black and White
This is the neighborhood scene I painted earlier. I mixed my own greys and tried again to capture the tiny spot on the map.
Monday, June 30, 2014
Lakeside
This is the little jumble of apartments and inns around Lake Como. We were there the first week of summer. At our Albergo Aurora was a wake boarding camp for girls from all over the world. The owners' daughter has recently won the World Championship in Wakeboarding in her classification. In addition to painters all over town, there were wake boarders taking off from the dock each day. Interesting combination!
Labels:
Arches Huile Paper,
architecture,
Lake Como,
Lezzano,
oil painting,
Open Air Italy
Sunday, June 29, 2014
The Kindness of Strangers
Do you know how to paint a feeling? I surely do not know what this means, but this study will forever evoke a memory of the kindness of strangers. Susan and I were painting in the shadows on a little street in Rozzo, a small neighborhood of the village, Lezzano. It was a very warm June day and the neighbors were all about, going in to church, sweeping the balcony, walking or driving!!! down this tiny street.
From the apartment on the right a lady came down with a beautifully arranged plate of fresh fruit, raspberries, cherries, nectarines. What a lovely gesture. We were later invited up into her apartment to see a drawing she had of her very corner of the world where there exists a 16th century fresco still intact on the building next door. Let us remember to always share with those in our midst.
From the apartment on the right a lady came down with a beautifully arranged plate of fresh fruit, raspberries, cherries, nectarines. What a lovely gesture. We were later invited up into her apartment to see a drawing she had of her very corner of the world where there exists a 16th century fresco still intact on the building next door. Let us remember to always share with those in our midst.
Labels:
Arches Huile Paper,
Lezzano,
oil painting,
Open Air Italy,
Rozzo
Saturday, June 28, 2014
Lake Como in the Afternoon
There are many little villages around Lake Como, all connected by a winding road running the entire circumference. This particular afternoon we painted in a spot where families also gathered to bathe in the icy cold water of the lake. The far mountains are Switzerland...still snow-covered on top.
Friday, June 27, 2014
Termezzo on Lake Como, Italy
This beautiful little spot on Lake Como was the site of our painting trip with the wonderful Kenn Backhaus.
Labels:
Kenn Backhaus,
Lake Como,
oil painting,
plein air painting
Thursday, June 26, 2014
Lezzano Afternoon
This is the little village in Italy on beautiful Lake Como where I had the good fortune to paint with Open Air Italy and the inimitable Kenn Backhaus. What a wonderful time we had at Albergo Aurora Lezzano. The air was thick with atmosphere!
Saturday, May 31, 2014
'4 Across'
In addition to growing beautiful roses, my daddy is a crossword genius. Here he is in his usual afternoon pose, right before 'Jeopardy.'
Thursday, May 29, 2014
my nubian neighbor
This is another of the neighbors out here in the country. There is a population explosion going on out there.
Saturday, May 17, 2014
Saint Harry Potter
There is so much to say about this pup. He pulled up beside me in a pickup and posed for me. Completely relaxed and drooling. What a doll! I left off the drool, but concentrated on his fabulous coat. He is one hairy beast. I tried to convey how very regal and saintly and ready to assist he seemed.
Labels:
12 x 12,
animals,
dogs,
Harry Potter,
oil painting,
Saint Bernard
Friday, May 16, 2014
Wednesday, May 14, 2014
No Time Like the Present
This just might be my favorite from Carol's class. We were always so excited to receive a golden gift from Navarra's. It meant something special was inside that little box.
Tuesday, May 13, 2014
The Rose
This is from Day 3: the rose. In Carol's class, she says the third day is the hardest for everyone. I believe it has to do with the close values and hues. Sally in our class whined and gnashed her teeth but completed a very nice rose. Another Carol painted a rose which looked just like the teacher's. She said she just followed instructions!
Monday, May 12, 2014
Egg and I
This is the Day 2: still life from the workshop with inimitable Carol Marine last week. She paints like no other and speaks to the simple set up for still life painting. I think this one works. (The original is not quite so purple.)
Sunday, May 11, 2014
Mother's Day Party
This silver set is ready to party. I love the handles, sturdy and simple. Happy Mother's Day to all my friends.
Labels:
12 x 12,
antique silverware,
oil painting,
still life
Saturday, May 10, 2014
Jr. Cowpoke
These are the cowboy boots my little cowboys each wore when he was about 2 years old. All three are now completely grown and fathers of little cowpokes. I painted with the excellent Carol Marine this past week. This was painted on Day 1: shoes. What a great teacher and fabulous workshop.
This painting "Jr. Cowpoke" is available for purchase in DailyPaintWorks Gallery.
This painting "Jr. Cowpoke" is available for purchase in DailyPaintWorks Gallery.
Thursday, April 3, 2014
Thursday, February 27, 2014
Snow Day in Alabama
These two little Southern boys rarely get to sled. What a great day when it snows and is icy and school is out. Ice, ice, baby.
Labels:
12 x 12,
Alabama,
icy weather,
oil painting,
sledding
Thursday, February 20, 2014
Hee-Haw
Here is another neighbor who lives on the other side. He is very happy just to enjoy the warm sunshine of a Central Texas February. Bluebonnets can't be far behind.
Thursday, February 13, 2014
Patterns
There are patterns of dark and light in composition. In this particular painting, I'm trying to create this pattern and to show the heaviest texture in the light. The shadows are thin, transparent paint.
Friday, February 7, 2014
My Daddy's Roses
My father has been a rose-grower since I was a small child. All our pictures were taken in our rose garden located along the side of the house where I grew up. These past few years, Daddy has gardened the neutral ground across the street from his home. There is a long stretch where he has installed crape myrtles, zinnias in the hot summertime, impatiens and other low-growing seasonal blossoms all beneath his gorgeous roses. I picked this bouquet of antique roses, the old-fashioned fragrant varieties. We just celebrated his 87th birthday. Gardening and his volunteering and bridge group have kept a spring in his step. He is an inspiration to us all.
Wednesday, February 5, 2014
LUCY
For Christmas, I received a new camera which color corrects. I decided to repost 'LUCY' because she shows off so much better with the right coat.
Thursday, January 30, 2014
Sunday, December 29, 2013
Saturday, December 28, 2013
Fork Knife Spoon
I'm trying very thick application of paint here to get an effect of texture. The basis is drawing, as usual. What fun to paint with great piles of paint and to aim for design in the process.
Tuesday, November 26, 2013
Out of Bounds
These happy two pups are the loves of my friend, Carol. They are actually both black, but the fellow on the top has turned a little brown, I notice. They were frolicking in Cypress Creek. Love the pooches!
Sunday, November 24, 2013
SILVER SPOON
My hydrangea and reflected-light exercise gave all the beauty and much distress. I believe it was worth it!
Friday, November 22, 2013
TRIO
Thursday, November 21, 2013
BLOSSOMS
This is part of my orchid series. The structure and shape of the orchid petal is my latest obsession. This one is part of a glorious couple of stalks of very prolific orchids. Grocery store, of course!
Sunday, October 13, 2013
TECOMA BELLS OF FIRE
We are enjoying the last blossoms of the Tecoma Bells of Fire, a heat and drought-hardy plant which flourishes here in Austin landscapes. Because of a little recent rainfall, we are blessed with many beautiful wildflowers out here in the country. Lots of purple and gold, my two favorite fall football colors. Geaux Tigers!
Saturday, October 12, 2013
I DO LOVE LUCY
I love her so well that I painted her again this week with a high-key palette. These eyes seem not only more accurate but more soulful. Sweet puppy! Getting to know her has been fun. I'm not a whole-hog dog person, but I do love a dog who will hold a pose like Lucy does.
Friday, October 11, 2013
Very Near
These last four paintings done in California were all painted on Arches Huile, a paper made especially for oil painting. I loved trying this paper, most of all because the paintings were so portable. This is painted in Carmel at the end of one of the streets.
Thursday, October 3, 2013
Sunday, September 15, 2013
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