Portfolio of Works

These are generally larger in size, and completed mostly, or entirely, in the studio. I work from quick studies and photographs that I display on my iPad or laptop. I will sometimes do some Photoshop work in order to nail down the composition before starting the painting.

The best way to improve your eye for color and value is by painting from life. I was introduced to plein air (painting from life outdoors) many years ago while in a workshop in Provincetown, MA. It turned me in a new direction, and I am still learning every time I venture out to paint. I've been able to incorporate into my studio work what I have learned from these quick two-hour sessions:  the color and temperature of shadows, the difference in value between the light side and shadow side of a building, the rendering of reflections. I like the spontaneity -- you have only a couple hours at most before the light changes. I almost always bring my gear with me when I travel, and have captured moments in time in many places.

My daughter lives in Montpelier, Vermont and has taken hundreds of photos, in all seasons, of the North Branch of the Winooski River. Several bridges span the river in the town, and she crosses over it while walking my grandson to and from school. There are several collections of the photos on her Instagram and I decided work from these to create a series. The river flooded in June 2023 and wiped out the downtown. It made national news. It took over a year for most of the businesses to reopen, and some just shuttered for good.

I've done some plein air paintings from a couple of the bridges while visiting, and on one occasion, an elderly gentleman talked to me at length about how special the river is, how it is central to the town's self-image. Another time, a woman stood behind me and simply said "Thank you."

I'm inspired by its different moods, as revealed by the seasons, and hope to capture the beauty, and in some cases, lack of beauty. That will be more difficult!

Monhegan is a small island ten miles from the mainland and only about a square mile in area. It is accessible only by boat and is primarily a walking island. Fishing and tourism are the main source of income for the residents, numbering less than 100 year-round. The population swells in the spring through fall with both visiting tourists and part-year residents. There are 9 miles of hiking trails, leading to the highest ocean cliffs on the Maine coastline. The village is on the western third of the island, with lodging, restaurants, and shops. Monhegan has long been an art colony for both artists and collectors of art. I've always wanted to go there to paint, and finally did so in October 2023 and June 2024. This is a collection of plein air works from those visits.

Cape Cod is one of those iconic places that everyone has heard of, and many have enjoyed a summer vacation or two in one of the quaint towns. These outer Cape towns are small in the off-season, and burgeoning with tourists and summer residents between Spring and Fall. The Cape has been a mecca for artists since Charles Hawthorne opened the Cape Cod School of Art in 1899.  The beaches are famous for their unspoiled beauty. On the bay side, the tide goes out at low tide, revealing salt marshes, tide pools, and sand bars that stretch as far as the eye can see — the largest tidal flats in North America. On the ocean side between Chatham and Provincetown, the sand dunes and cliffs rise high above wide sandy beaches. And many of the towns have a number of “kettle ponds” nestled into their pine and locust woods — very popular for the young families.

Susan lived on the Cape for 22 years, spending a few years in Provincetown, then North Eastham, Orleans, and finally, in Brewster. She raised her family there, and returns every year to visit family and old friends. The past few years, she brought her paints and started to revisit some of the old haunts. She did over 300 paintings while a resident and in the past several years has been adding to the list. Her painting “Duck Harbor” won third place in the Wellfleet Chamber of Commerce cover competition in 2021.

There are additional Cape Cod pieces on the Giclee Prints page, and Cape notecards on the Notecards page.

I will participate in Silicon Valley Open Studios on May 2nd and 3rd at Site #331 The Ocean Blue Vault in Half Moon Bay, CA, and on May 9th and 10th in my studio (#103) at Site #18 Art Bias in San Carlos, CA. My "Bargain Bin" has drastic reductions on some older works. Price listed is for unframed artwork. Many are also available framed, price is listed, or inquire. Shipping within the U.S. is included in the price.

Please contact me with any questions or requests.

I accept the occasional commission. Here are a few. I like to work from well-composed photographs if I cannot work from life. Please contact me via email if you have a commission request.

5 X 7 blank notecards with an affixed print of one of my paintings on the front. The painting name and date are on the back of the card, and the inside is blank. The cards can be put into a frame if desired.

Each card includes a white envelope.