Grateful Notice

                                                       "Mustard Field", pastel on paper, 15" x 15"
It's been a while since my last post, a very busy summer, with many plein air days. 
I want to give special thanks to a sweet couple from Pennsylvania, who were on a bike trip through the Champlain Islands, and purchased the pastel painting above, "Mustard Field".  They told me that this painting would be a special remembrance of their trip to Vermont.  I am honored.

                                                      "Snow Farm, Across the Road", oil on canvas, 12" x 16"
One of the favorite places I painted this summer was the Snow Farm Vineyard in North Hero Vermont.  It's a beautiful location on the west shore of the island, with many great views. In August, I was fortunate to teach a plein air painting workshop at the vineyard.  It was so much fun, I had terrific students, and the weather was perfect.  I'm hoping to teach many more of these workshops in the future. 
All in all, it was a very productive summer, meeting some wonderful people, and I am grateful for the opportunity to have been able to paint at so many beautiful locations here in the Champlain Islands.

New Wesite is Up and Running

 

Missisquoi Blue

Pastel

 

It has been a busy few weeks.  I have been spending a lot of time working on getting my new website up and running. It's still a work in progress, but I hope you will visit it at:

www.susanlarkinpaintings.com

 

So cool to have my domain name!

 

In May, I received a grant from The Vermont Arts Council to help pay for website design and construction.  I am so thankful to this important organization and all they have done in support of me and all the other Vermont artists who are learning about the Business of Art. I could not have taken on this project without their support. 

 

Last Sunday afternoon, I was at the Fisk Farm in Isle La Motte, for a reception for a show I am participating in along with fellow artists, Valerie Ugro, of Fairfax, and Ginger Johnson , of Alburgh. I have 15 paintings in the show, and they look terrific in that beautiful ancient barn The turnout was great, and I want to thank everyone who came by on that beautiful day. This show has been extended until June 19th, I invite you to stop by.

 



 

 



Spring Show at Fisk Farm

     Savage Point Barn

oil on canvas

24" x 24"

Tomorrow I will be hanging a show of 15 paintings at the Fisk Farm Arts Barn on Isle La Motte.
My paintings will be up through the end of June, so I am hoping if you are up this way, you'll stop in and take a  look.  The painting above, Savage point Barn, was done from a plein air study last summer.  The barn is located at Savage Gardens, a wonderful vegetable farm on Savage Point Road in North Hero.  We painted up there on an incredibly hot summer day in brilliant summer light.
I think we returned to this farm to paint about three more times during the summer, it is one of my favorite painting spots in the islands.

A Celebration of one of Vermont's Beautiful Rivers

 

  Missisquoi Kayak Wanderings, oil on canvas, 30" x 30" 

 

The painting above is one of a series of larger works that I completed over the winter.  I never seem to tire of the beautiful Missisquoi river as a subject. It is one of my favorite places to kayak.  It is always changing; last year the river was very low, now in April it is running high again, overflowing its banks. It is truely a treasure of northern Vermont.

 

 

Orange Grasses, oil on canvas, 24" x 30"

 

This Painting, "Orange Grasses" is one of two paintings that will be included in the "Art on the Refuge" show at the Missisquoi National Refuge open house in Swanton Vermont, from May 18 through July 20. A portion of the proceeds from sales of these paintings will be donated to Friends of the Refuge, an organization that sponsers conservation and preservation,  many events throughout the summer, bird walks and canoe tours to the great blue heron rookery in the Missisquoi Bay each year.  The open house at the refuge will be Saturday May 18, from 10:00  - 3:00 with presentations at 1:00 on birds of the region, and at 2:00 for the art exhibit.  I hope if you are in the area, you will drop in!





Working Small

Rising Mist, Winter
oil on paper, 6" x 7"

Near the Lamoille
oil on paper
6" x 6"

I've decided to continue working on these small paintings for the time being, and having fun.  I am learning so much about composition, value, and experimenting with new brushwork techniques. I am able to paint, scratch out areas, paint thick and thin, and try a whole bunch of things I would be reluctant to try on a large canvas.  I am working on some large paintings at the same time, and they should be ready to post soon. My painting style has been moving in a new direction, using all the new discoveries from the minis. 

 



Painting My Way Through February

                                             Imaginary Winter Scene, oil on paper, 6" x 6"

                                                      Absrtact, (Michael) oil on paper, 7" x 6"


These are three of the small works on paper I've been doing for the past month.  I've tried to keep up the practice of painting one of these each  day, and for the most part, I have been able to accomplish this.  It's been interesting to experiment and stretch, using all kinds of techniques and tools besides my trusty brushes, pallette knife, sticks,  paper towels, and cardboard.  My goal has been to simplify, simplify, simplify!

                                              Orange Everywhere, oil on paper, 6" x 6"

This way of working has led to some nice small studies that I think I will use as reference for my larger paintings.