California painter Susan Brown presents a collection of colorful landscapes that share a unique sense of place. See more of her work by visiting her website.
“Salinas” acrylic, 14″ x 11″
To create in any of the arts takes courage. – Georgia O’Keeffe
To me painting is not a hobby, is not easy, and is not usually fun (although sometimes it can be.) Approaching a blank canvas is like beginning an unknown journey. It has pitfalls, challenges and unexpected surprises. Some of them are happy surprises and some are not. I call the process paintstaking.
“Covid Hope Taqueria” acrylic, 32″ x 28″
Due to the architectural geometry, aerial perspective and inclusion of portraits and figures, my Roadways and Today’s World series are especially complex and challenging.
“Arro’s Market” acrylic, 11 ‘ x 14″
As many artists know, you can fudge landscapes and still lifes, but if you are painting human beings, especially at all realistically, one can spot inaccuracies immediately. That’s why I studied nine hours per week during 2020. I continue to study figures and portraiture so they can be incorporated into my paintings.
“San Francisco 1″ acrylic, 20″ x 16”
One thing I do enjoy is getting into the zone. This is where I’m so totally absorbed in my work that I hear and see nothing else, as if a shroud were over me that shuts out the rest of the world. I even talk to my paintings, sometimes swearing at them if things are not going well, and thanking them when they are!
“Hidden Valley I” oil, 14″ x 11″
However, I find that day to day distractions often make it difficult to have this concentrated situation. That’s why I applied and was accepted into an artist residency in France for a month.
Artist Susan Brown with artwork in an exhibition in France.
While there, I painted a large (32” x 28”) painting in about two weeks, including a landscape background with a portrait in the foreground. This was a record for me. I was surprised that I could finish such a large, detailed painting in such a short time! It gave me confidence knowing that I have the technique and knowledge to do this. The painting was then accepted into an international exhibition.
“Downtown Santa Cruz” acrylic, 24″ x 22″
Now I apply this concentration as I paint in my studio. Many of my paintings are local, including Van Ness Ave, Santa Cruz, which is the street I live on. It was one of my first location paintings. Downtown Santa Cruz is my candy-colored version of my town’s downtown, where five streets converge. (The geometry of the crosswalks was especially challenging to get right!)
“Davenport Evening” acrylic, 36″ x 32″
The Davenport paintings are of a town about ten miles from Santa Cruz. It’s a place I often go, to eat at the iconic restaurants (the RoadHouse and the Whale City Bakery) and hike down from the bluffs to a path by the ocean. I like the small town feel.
“Roadhouse Evening” acrylic, 20″ x 16″
My Hidden Valley landscape paintings are of a lovely valley that is only seen very briefly while driving on California Highway 1 between Half Moon Bay and Santa Cruz.
“Hidden Valley II” acrylic, 14″ x 11″
I intend my paintings to pose questions for the viewer, who may be figuring out where the roads lead. They are meant to evoke a sense of recognition or deja vu, whether or not you have actually been to these places. And I want to create a sense of community regarding how we all deal with difficult situations, such as Covid and immigration, in Today’s World.
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