TROIKA, 36x24
Acrylic/Mixed Media
Stretched Canvas Triptych
36 x 24 in.
SOLD
This original artwork consists of three’s….3 canvases, 3 circles, etc… The title, Troika (pronounced troi-kuh), means “group of three acting in unity.” It is representative of Love, Word and Truth acting together in unity giving us never ending hope.
Private Collector: Greensboro, NC
You're invited to the “FOR EVERYTHING A SEASON” Art Show this weekend. If you are in the area, I would love for you to stop by Southridge Gallery and see some of my newest paintings which haven’t been posted on my website yet. I will also have note cards with photos of my paintings for sale at this show.
Vivian and Susan
“FOR EVERYTHING A SEASON”
Featuring paintings by artists
Vivian Robinson and Susan Harris
SOUTHRIDGE GALLERY
308 Southridge Road
Jamestown, NC
336-454-2499
SATURDAY and SUNDAY
APRIL17th and 18th
2:00 – 5:00 PM
Vivian paints figurative art in oil, acrylics, oil pastels and watercolor. Her paintings are in private collections and five of her largest acrylics hang in the new School of Communications at High Point University, High Point, NC
I paint contemporary abstract mixed media in acrylics. My paintings are in private collections throughout the US and Canada and two of my artworks, “Sisters” and “Shades of Sapphire” are being published in “Best of Worldwide Mixed Media Artists”, Volume 1 book by Kennedy Publishing.
Refreshments ● Open to the Public ● Free Admission
10% of all proceeds go to benefit the Guilford County Animal Shelter
HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!
A sampling of available artwork....
Artwork by Susan
Portrait by Vivian, Abstracts by Susan
Artwork by Vivian
Artwork by Vivian
“Painting requires the bravery of solitude. Painting requires disciplined labor. To be a painter is to search the world with a benevolent eye for every subtle beauty that the infinite world offers.” Charles Philip Brooks
April’s here in full force..nature is bursting forth and so is my calender of events!
This week started April’s burst of activity….. If you are in the area, please do stop by one or all of the opening receptions….
April 8 (Thursday) —“Dimensions 2010” Opening Reception, 5 to 7 PM at Associated Artists in Winston Salem, NC….
April 11 (Sunday)—“A Greater Vision for Autism”, the Cosmic Cow Society’s Autism Benefit Exhibit Opening Reception, 2 to 5 PM at Mitchell & Bartlett Orthodontics, 5314-B West Friendly Avenue, Greensboro, NC.
April 17 & 18 (Saturday and Sunday)—“For Everything A Season” Joint Exhibit with artist Vivian Robinson, 2 to 5 PM at Southridge Gallery, 308 Southridge Road, Jamestown, NC
May 1—Heart of Living Home Gallery’s Spring Home Show…details to follow soon!
Note: At the April 17 & 18 “For Everything A Season” show, I will be unveiling, and showing for the first time, five of my newest paintings ... “Troika”, “Anticipation”, “Secret Garden”, Tranquility” and “Joy Unleashed”. As you can see, 2010 started out with lots of inspiration and painting.
Finished two more paintings! Yay! Now to seal them. Since today is nice and sunny with calm winds it will be a good day to carry them outside to apply the sealant. Then off to the photographer. I’ve gotten a little behind on posting photos on my website but I should be able to post some of the new paintings soon. Counting down to the April shows and trying to get everything ready. It’s been a busy start to a new year…but for the good!
Equilibrium was inspired by the ever present challenge to maintain a balance of joy and peace in the midst of life’s stressful situations and is intended to serve as a reminder of this much needed balance.
Equilibrium was one of the artworks I created to hang in the solo exhibit at the Center Point Model Penthouse Art Showcase presented by Heart of Living Home Gallery 2009-2010.
I applied acrylic medium with a paint knife using a different technique on each side. One side is black with scumbled white and the other is mottled gray with scumbled black layered over medium relief textures divided by a line of metallic copper. Painting wraps edges of gallery wrap canvas and is sealed with a satin archival UV protective varnish. It is signed by the artist (sjh) and comes with a Certificate of Authenticity. Does not require a frame.
Sometimes rotating an abstract can make it look entirely different or give it a different feel. Several of mine offer the option of hanging horizontally or vertically. Equilibrium is one of those abstracts. Whenever viewing an abstract artwork, keep in mind there may be other hanging options making it more suitable for the hanging space.
Horizontal View - EQUILIBRIUM, 30 x 40
Shown hanging horizontal in a bedroom.
Shown hanging horizontal in a kitchen.
Vertical View - EQUILIBRIUM, 40 x 30
Shown hanging vertical in a kitchen.
Shown hanging vertically beside a chair.
As Picasso pointed out, knowing when to stop is just as important as knowing how to paint.
Have been in the studio for the past few days and it’s been wonderful to leave the everyday demands behind and just paint….the result: one completed, one almost finished and one half way there. It feels good to get those inner feelings and emotions on canvas. Once they are all complete then I’ll need a nice sunny day with no wind so I can photograph them. The no wind may be a tall order….after all it is March and we live on a hill in the country with nothing to block the wind….but all things are possible!
HIDDEN SOLACE, Dimensions 2010 National Juried Exhibition
Hidden Solace has been accepted into the National Juried Dimensions 2010 Exhibition presented by Associated Artists of Winston-Salem.
Opening Reception will be Thursday, April 8th, 5:00 - 7:00 PM at Associated Artists Gallery, 301 West Fourth Street, Winston-Salem, NC.
Hope you can stop by!
Tranquility was inspired by the calm stillness which settles in around us as our focus turns toward the soothing sounds of creation—waves softly lapping at waters edge, a gentle breeze caressing nearby trees, mourning doves cooing on the freshly mowed lawn—all expressing their appreciation for another day.
This 40" x 30" painting is one of my personal favorites. It took 4-1/2 months and over 22 layers of acrylic mediums, tissue paper, paints and glazes to create. The underlying painting of aqua, rust and brown with tissue paper texture is subtly visible beneath the heavy acrylic relief, deepening the overall pale, dusty aqua green tone of the artwork. Golden brown and raw umber areas of texture are scumbled with metallic gold to add depth and highlights.
Click images to enlarge
Painting wraps the edges of the gallery wrap canvas and is sealed with a satin archival UV protective finish. Artist signature (sjh) is located on the front bottom righthand quadrant. Tranquility comes with a Certificate of Authenticity, is wired and ready to hang. No frame necessary.
Click thumbnails below to view larger detail image.
Closeup #1
Closeup #2
Closeup #3
Closeup #4
One painting is coming along nicely and approaching completion. The second one, however, is another story. Yesterday it took a definite turn for the worse, but I encouraged myself by remembering the process of painting SISTERS. SISTERS reached a point where I thought there was no hope for anything good to come of it, then suddenly it came together and turned out to be a favorite among viewers. Suddenlies can be so wonderful! I won’t give up on this one…not yet….I’ll just keep pressing on searching and waiting for suddenly to happen.
Three paintings in progress and waiting for paint to dry. Contemplating what each will be named and where they will take me next. Sometimes the name comes first, then the painting….but mostly the painting and then the name. Often I have to see the final product before I fully understand the buried thoughts and emotions that were being expressed during in the process. Awwww….the joy of creating a new piece.
It’s always amazing experiencing the twists and turns the journey of an individual painting can take. I love the process…even though sometimes it can be a little trying when the next phase takes days or weeks to become clear. I try one color or technique and it just doesn’t seem to fit…so I backtrack and paint over or add to…then suddenly the pieces of the puzzle start falling into place…that’s when the fun really begins. One canvas has already reached the fun stage and is taking shape….the other two??? Well, they are still in the experimental stage.
Here’s the scoop…. I have been selected to have two of my paintings, “Sisters” and “Shades of Sapphire”, published in “Best of Worldwide Mixed Media Artists, Volume 1”. They will be featured in the A-K edition. More later.
Artist Vivian Robinson has invited me to join her for a two person exhibit in April. The exhibit, “To Everything A Season”, will run for two days on the 17th and 18th of April from 2:00 to 5:00 pm at Southridge Gallery, 308 Southridge Road, Jamestown, NC. The show will be open to the public and refreshments will be served. Besides being an artist, Vivian also loves to garden. Her yard/garden is beautiful in the spring time so it would be worth the visit just to see that. Hope you can come!
I also have plans to participate in the Cosmic Cow Society group show the month of April at Mitchell & Bartlett, 5314-B West Friendly Ave., Greensboro, NC. This is an Autism benefit exhibit and 20% of all proceeds will go to this charity.
I believe there is a place of solitude an artist must attain—a place where one discovers who they are and what they are about—their deep beliefs and inner convictions. It is out of that place of understanding and being at peace with oneself that individuality begins to be birthed and is expressed through the creative process. As the real artist in you becomes evident, your art evolves and you are better able to develop your own individual technique and style. There is no longer the need to attempt copying the works of others. For me, technique and style are the elements that make some artists stand out above others.
Delivered paintings this morning to Center Pointe at 201 N. Elm Street, Greensboro, for my first solo exhibit. I don’t take this opportunity lightly considering that in 2006 and part of 2007 I wasn’t sure if I would live through the year but God has been merciful and good to me. He has healed and strengthened my body and enabled me to continue to paint. I am aware daily that He is my strength and gives me the vision and direction for the paintings I create. I may never regain all the energy I once took for granted, but I am at rest with where I am today. Then again, all my energy may return one day. My hope is that if it does, I won’t fall back into old habits of trying to live life by my own power. It’s better this way…leaning on the One that is my strength, support and comfort.
I am so excited about having some of my paintings on display in my first solo exhibit. The exhibit is sponsored by Heart of Living Home Gallery from January 26 through the end of March in the lobby at Center Pointe on Elm Street in downtown Greensboro. My artwork was received very well at the Center Pointe Model Penthouse Grand Opening and now that the model is closed several pieces will be placed in the lobby for viewing and purchase.
The Grand Opening of the Center Pointe Model Penthouse ran for three weekends in December and January. They had an excellent turnout and raised over $7000 for Hospice. It was an honor and pleasure to be a part of such an outstanding event.
I am sincerely humbled and thrilled at being selected by Kennedy Publishing to have two of my paintings juried in to be published in their new book, “Best of Worldwide Mixed Media Artists, Vol. l”. I received an email from them this week saying the proofs are on the way and I should receive them sometime next week. Once approved, then the waiting period begins until the book is actually published and available for purchase. For anyone interested…stay tuned and check back often…as soon as I have detailed information that it is available on where/how the book can be purchased, I will post it here.
Well, I’ve got two new paintings started. They are in various stages of having texture and color applied. It’s always fun to start new ones. I had a couple of ideas in mind on where I wanted to go with them when I started two days ago and already they are taking me on a different journey. To me, this is the thrill of the creative process. It will be interesting to see what is next. Today, I added more texture. Wonder what tomorrow will bring once this layer of texture is dry?
2010…the start of a new year. May it be filled with the presence and blessings of the Lord. May we all achieve the destiny to which we are called and may we live in peace with all those around us. May we live a life fulfilled and overflowing with an abundance of love. May our lives be living proof that there is a God who loves us.
Happy New Year!
“One can never consent to creep when one feels an impulse to soar.” Helen Keller 1880-1968