"Ducklings"
Watercolor on Arches Hot Pressed Paper 300 gsm
14" x 9 1/2" - 355 mm x 240 mm
© Susan Harrison-Tustain

Please click to visit the Exhibiton page and see more
sneak previews of Susan's latest work

And here is another sneak preview of one of my latest paintings that will feature in my 2011 'Recollections exhibiton'.

Swirling reflections created by a gentle wake belie the urgent paddling of webbed feet beneath the surface.

Water droplets caught in damp feather-down glisten and tell a story of fun and games as the two young larikins play amongst the reeds.

I loved this scene and wanted to capture the feeling of innocence, serenity and tranquility.

I just want to thank you all for giving so much thought to the wonderful title suggestions you are submitting for my Boom bar painting. As you know you can continue to send titles still to 31st August.

We have received some fantastic titles sent in by people from all over the world! It is lovely to have such a great response. Remember you can send in as many titles as you wish. So feel free to send more if you have new inspiration.

Please use my contact form or email to susan(at)susanart.com

I look forward to going through all of the titles on 31st and to make a choice. As I promised I will publish the painting title I have chosen here on my blog and in my newsletter. This is such a fun thing to do so when I am stuck for a title again - I will call on you again for your thoughts and inspiration!

Winter is departing us here in New Zealand and the first signs of springs are showing themselves everywhere. The daffodils are blooming, the tulips are coming up too and I am looking forward to see our Rhododendrons are coming into flower.

They all make fabulous painting studies. You may remember my painting of Floral Dance - a stunning Rhododendron I painted a few years ago. I love the fluted edges of this Rhododendron. It has a sumptuous perfume.

A number of years prior to that I also painted Rhododendron Unique. I had only just begun painting in watercolor at that stage. This painting was in one of my first exhibitions. You may not have seen these paintings previously. I will post them and some other early paintings as well for your interest. You will see my painting style has changed a great deal since then. Rhododendron Unique has a painterly look. Floral Dance (a later painting) looks as if you can touch it.

"Rhododendron Unique"
Watercolor Flower Painting of a Rhododendron
© Susan Harrison-Tustain

But there are many other interesting things to see in these paintings. Artists may be interested to see how to paint leaves that have numerous undulations. I often refer to my painting of Floral Dance because it shows how I paint leaves that are emerging from shadows. You can also see how I paint transparent shadows. See how the veins and spine of the leaves show through the shadow? This is how I give the impression of a transparent shadow. Block the veins and spine out with your finger and take note how the shadow then becomes opaque. Can you see that it has now lost the appearance of a shadow? Without the impression of veins or something seen within the shadow - you can see how this dark area - can resemble a hole rather than a shadow.

There are many wonderful lessons in this painting. Remember observation is the artists best friend!

31 ½” x 21 “ - 800 mm x 530 mm
Oil on Belgian Linen

Do you like a challenge?

Here is a fun opportunity to help choose a title for my large oil painting of the Boom Bar in Soho, New York. I finished this oil painting of a New York cafe scene some time ago and have been trying to come up with the perfect title.  Easier said than done!

Here is a little background on the inspriation for the painting:

Richard and I wandered along the Soho streets looking for somewhere characterful to eat - and we came across the Boom Bar - a restaurant/bar where we felt as if we had stepped back into the 1940s.

We were given a lovely table which gave me the view of the restaurant that you can see (For those who will seek out this magical place - please bear in mind I have used a little artistic license here and there too!)

I sat mesmerized by the decor and the mood created by the rich, warm, soft light. The deep shadows created such an evocative atmosphere and of course the chandeliers gently illuminated the beautiful patterned ceiling. The aperitif bottles glow with singing color reflecting in the mirror behind. The waitress behind the bar graciously agreed to pose for me. She is Australian and a stunningly beautiful and capable woman. She was perfect!

The painting will mean different things to different people but for me - I particularly wanted to reflect the era of the French Résistance. A clandestine connection between the waitress and the patron. An understanding.

As you can imagine I couldn't wait to put paint to canvas and capturethe emotion I felt about this incredible place.

So let's do something really different: put our heads together - put our thinking caps on and conjure up an evocative title for this mood-filled scene I couldn't resist painting!

All submissions to be sent to:

richard@susanart.com

Subject line: Your title suggestion

Text space: Your name and email address

The cutoff date for title suggestions is August 31st, 2010!

I will personally notify the person who writes the title I choose and the title and author of it  will be announced in my next newsletter and in this blog! So do watch out for it!

This is going to be fun!

Please visit this Watercolor DVD page and from there you can visit each individual DVD page where you will find images and information for each Watercolor DVD.

I recently purchased a new DVD myself. It was then that I realized how important it is to show artists what they will actually be getting when they buy my DVDs.

When we buy an art instruction DVD we are really making a 'blind' purchase. So Doris has spent a great deal of time ensuring everyone can see as much as possible of each my DVDs to give you confidence and assurance that not only are my DVDs professional quality - but also that my teaching and watercolor art lessons deliver everything you want to know and so much more (no matter what skill level you have reached). My aim is to open a whole new world of possibilities for you to help you reach your full potential with your watercolor painting.

We also have a special offer to celebrate the new DVD pages:

Buy all three sets together and receive free shipping anywhere in the world!

Click on the image to visit the brand new DVD pages.

Have fun everyone!

Coming soon...

Watch this space for my next new painting! My next blog post will feature a new oil painting that will be one of the main pieces of work in my 2011 exhibition!

Susan

Please click to visit the Exhibiton page and see more
sneak previews of Susan's latest work

I thought you may like to see another sneak preview of one of my latest paintings that will feature in my 2011 "Recollections exhibition":

I love to paint wildlife. Particularly bird studies.

Let me introduce "Liberty'.

A watercolor painting of a white pigeon in the beautiful Provencal village of Peillon. I love the notion that she is free to nest where she chooses. She has chosen this ancient building with the most breathtaking view of the Mediterranean from her balcony.

The broken window is the entrance to her sanctuary. The old glass and crumbling stonework allow me to play with light and reflection and these challenge me to paint textures and surfaces that are almost tactile. I want to give the viewer a sense of becoming a part of the earthiness of this place that is slowly giving-way to nature.

As with all of my paintings, if we choose we can enter the world inside the frame. We can look up to the broken window and watch the white pigeon emerge onto the balcony and imagine the feeling of liberation as she soars through the Mediterranean blue sky. Can you hear the flutter of feathers, the brush of wind as she swoops back onto her ancient perch? Feel the warm air, the sun and breathe in the aroma of wild Thyme and dry grasses. How easy it is to walk passed - these things unnoticed - and nothing would change. But take a moment to ponder what is there for us to discover, absorb - leave untouched. These cameos of life touch me with their unassuming and yet compelling tie to things passed, present and future. I leave full of wonderment and inspiration, great respect and gratitude to have looked up and felt this connection to nature.

As I painted this piece, each day I could sense these things and now the painting is completed, I love to watch as those who visit me, stand in front of this piece and become lost in this serene and peaceful place of liberation.

I have a lovely story to share with you all. Some time ago Kevin Milne, the TVNZ presenter of a 'make a wish' television program, contacted me with avery touching story:

Kevin told me of a young family who had lost their two children to a very rare disease (Mac Kinnon's Disease). The mother wanted to commemorate the passing of her dear little girl and wrote to the program to see if a rose could be given her daughter's name.

The beautiful single yellow rose was named Laura Alexandra. What abeautiful name for a rose and what a lovely tribute for this dear little girl.

Kevin had arranged for one of New Zealand's top rose breeders to create a rose especially for Laura. But unfortunately roses were not going to be in bloom at the time the program was to go to air.

So Kevin asked me if I would create a painting of the rose and if I would present the painting to Mrs Mac Kinnon on the show.

Of course it was my pleasure to donate this painting. I was so moved by the story, the family and how everyone at the wish program had got behind the story to make it happen so beautifully.

Unfortunately I was booked to fly to the US the day the program went to air - but TVNZ came to my studio a few weeks earlier to film my message and gift of the painting to Mrs Mac Kinnon.

The watercolor painting and message was a huge surprise for Mrs Mac Kinnon and when I subsequently saw the program and presentation, I had tears running down my face. The presentation and emotion of this was so touching, so fitting and a moment I will never forget.

Here is the Image of my painting: Laura Alexandra Rose

]]> http://www.susanart.com/blog/daffodils-flower-paintings-in-watercolor.html/feed 2 http://www.susanart.com/blog/daffodils-flower-paintings-in-watercolor.html http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Susanart-TheArtOfSusanHarrison-tustain/~3/YgJCKVHKbis/italian-sculpture-print-and-pansies-in-watercolor.html http://www.susanart.com/blog/italian-sculpture-print-and-pansies-in-watercolor.html#comments Wed, 02 Jun 2010 15:19:43 +0000 Susan http://www.susanart.com/blog/?p=1789 Fine Art Giclee from an original painting of an Italian marble sculpture and an offset lithograph from an original painting of pansies, leaves and ladybugs.

Two of my Limited Edition Fine Art prints are almost sold out

This is an opportunity to purchase the last in a very popular giclee print edition and an offset print edition

Learn how to create prints and reproductions from your art.

I have two fine art prints that are almost sold out. There is only one Psiche Abbandonata Limited Edition Fine Art Giclee left. This is a giclee on 300 gsm watercolor paper. It is a very early number that I have put aside for myself. But I have decided to sell it as my walls are becoming too full with paintings as my collection for my 2011 exhibition increases.

Psiche Abbandonata

"Psiche Abbandonata"
Watercolor Painting
22 3/4 " x 13 1/2 "
Available as TrueGiclée Print

This sight took my breath away when I happened across it in the Piti Palace in Florence, Italy.

The dappled light lay softly on her body as it folded around the marble figure. This sculpture seemed alive as she appeared to have an amazing depth and glow from within the stone.  I particularly loved capturing the femininity in her fingers and toes.

The way the light gently rested on her body and folding marble fabric as it draped so exquisitely. Her elegance and grace touched me and made painting this scene so very compelling.

Light and Shade

For the artist, this painting is an excellent example of creating form in watercolor using light and shade (tonal variation), color temperature and soft elegant line. If you look closely you  can see I use the same methods to describe folds in petals as I do when I want to paint folds in fabric with watercolor. This is a wonderful example to show you how to paint folds of fabric in watercolor.  I stand in front of this giclee and feel the peace and tranquillity, grace, elegance and innocence.

See the painting and a detail image of this Sculpture on my Fine Art Prints Page with more  information.

High Summer

"High Summer"
Watercolor Painting
18 ¾" x 21" - 477 mm x 535 mm"
Available as Lithograph

This Pansy Painting is an offset lithograph and there are very few of this print left. It is a very limited print run of just 125. This flower painting was on the cover of the New Zealand Gardener magazine. It was the most popular painting in the exhibition in which it was featured. I love the little ladybugs hiding amongst the leaves and the spent flower which shows the beauty of life and age. The petals waft in the summer breeze as the sun highlights the little faces of these beautiful flowers. The leaves are a study in how to paint leaves – as they were such fun to create with their undulating segments and shiny surface. I like to think this painting is a celebration as it captures the feel of a summers day – for all four seasons!

Please have a look at my Cottage Garden Pansies with a detail image and more information.

Lets chat about giclee reproduction:

Many of you ask about my images available on giclee and lithograph. You want to know which images I choose and why I choose them. You ask about the quality and longevity of giclees and offset lithographs. As some of your are artists – and some of you are interested to know as much information as possible before you invest in art and reproductions - let me share some information with you:

Quality Giclees

When you have decided you would like to produce reproductions of your work – you first need to be assured of a good response to prints of your work. The appeal of your prints does not only rely on the image – it actually begins with quality. It is very expensive to create quality reproductions. Everything I do is done to the highest standard possible and this of course is true of my reproduction prints too. I build my reputation on quality.

There is much research and time that goes into sourcing the best methods and craftspeople to create superb giclees – but your clients need to know the giclee they have just invested in can be an heirloom.

Ask your giclee printer if he gives a guarantee in excess of 100 years (before even the tiniest of difference could be noticed by the human eye.) This is very important. It is important to me also that my name and quality are synonymous – just as your clients want assurance of the best possible reproduction too.

There are many printers out there who can produce what they loosely title ‘giclees’. Sadly many of these produce substandard product and this is very bad for genuine printers who are also artisans of printing in their own right. These are craftspeople who create prints to a professional  standard.

The wonderful thing is there are now accepted standards that give the art buyer a guarantee of the highest quality.

TruGiclee Certification

This, in my mind, the best guarantee an artist can have that the quality of their printer meets rigorous standards required for this esteemed certification.

How many should you produce a print run?

One of the things that has caused a loss of credibility in the print market in the past is an unfortunate sense of greed shown by some artists or their agents. Patrons may have bought a signed and numbered limited edition print and thought they were purchasing one out of a print run of say 500. But on close inspection the artist may have a print run of 500 in one size and 500 in another size and 500 in another size. This isn’t always disclosed. Then there could also be 500 on watercolor paper and 500 on canvas.

I believe an artist has to be upfront and very transparent.

In my case I declare the number in the print run with pride. For instance in some of my print runs you will see I have 350 regular prints, 25 artist’s proofs and 25 remarques (hand embellished). This gives the patron the choice of what type of giclee print they would like but it also shows them that my print run is strictly limited to the number and variety I have declared. They are assured of a limited print run and they are issued with a certificate of authenticity.

Other artists may prefer not to have a limited edition and this is fine – it is always reflected in the price and as long as the patron is aware of everything – they can then make an informed choice to suit their needs.

What do we look for when deciding if we should create a print / reproduction?

First you need to be assured of demand. If the demand for your original paintings is high – then you know people love your work and would love to own a reproduction.

Know your market

Before going into reproduction you need to decide how you will let people know you are creating prints. How will you do that? This is very important. A website is not enough. You need demand and you also need a good qualified mailing list of people who are very interested in your work. People are bombarded with emails every day where businesses are trying to sell them things. You need a qualified list of names of people who would love a piece of your work or reproduction. Without this interest or list, you may need an agent.

It is very expensive to create fine art reproductions so do take the time to do the research first.

What to look for in a giclee Printer/craftsperson

Firstly you want someone with a good eye for detail. A craftsperson who is passionate about their craft.

Ask them about their printing equipment: scanner, giclee printer, substrate (artists canvas or watercolor paper), giclee coatings, giclee inks. All of these are crucial to the longevity and quality of your product.

My printer/craftsman has an extremely high resolution scanner that cost him over $250,000. Believe it or not - the scanner is more important than the printer! His printers are leading edge and are updated to keep a constant edge.

The substrates he uses and the inks and coatings are specific to each other to ensure the best longevity possible.

Search for TruGiclee so you can understand the strict standards required to produce superb quality giclees.

Once you have all the information you need and you have ticked the boxes above – you know you will have a superior product that you can sell to your patrons with pride. Something that will be enjoyed for generations

My Reproduction Page shows you available Fine Art Prints as TrueGiclées and Lithographs.

Susan

Some of these roses are Old English Roses by David Austin such as "Belle Story" (a pink Peach colored, cupped rose with lovely stamens).

Rose "Abraham Darby"
© Susan Harrison-Tustain

Abraham Darby rose is also another David Austin Old English Rose. This watercolor rose painting won the inaugural New Zealand Gardener Art Award - judged by Shona Mc Farlane.

This award began my professional career as an artist. My work subsequently featured on 12 or more covers of the New Zealand Gardener Magazine as well as numerous written features. You can view some of the covers and read magazine articles in the Publications/Press section of my website.

This very double old fashioned cupped rose has the most sumptuous fragrance.

Another beautiful David Austin Old English Rose is Constance Spry. This is a once flowering rose but worth a place in your rose garden because it is so beautiful.

This was my 7th painting after my switch from oil painting to watercolor painting. Iam sure you will see many differences in the rose painting methods I now use. It is an interesting study for you to see because my painting style was so very different in those days.

Susan

‘Recollection’

28^th 29^th & 30^th October 2011

More information on my Events Page on the Fine Art Site

I know many of you like to plan your overseas holidays in advance and are waiting to hear the dates of my next major exhibition of oil and watercolor paintings in 2011.

"Faraway"
Medium: Oil on Belgian Linen
Size: 22"x16" inch
(560 mm x 410 mm)

I am really pleased to make this announcement as I create my new pieces for my collection of paintings. The works are challenging and exciting! I like to think they will engage viewers to interpret and apply their own history to them. I love to see my patrons become absorbed in the world inside the frame. For me the real truth and meaning of art is measured in the long silences it creates.

I will share one of my new oil paintings here with you now.

You are the first  to see this new painting from my ‘Recollection’ exhibition.