Golden Hour (2020) Painting by Susan Frances Johnson

Art gives me an excuse to do things, go places, and explore. It motivates me to look closely at nature, human interactions, sights, and sounds of everyday life. The things we take for granted, and frame the way we live. The heart of my work is in the outdoors, painting and exploring the intricate patterns of light and shadow on a landscape.

The steps of my painting process allow me to concentrate on one aspect of design at a time. Using photo references and memory not to replicate precisely what I see, but to paint what I want the viewer to see. Next I make small sketches to create a pleasing composition and to explore new ideas. I look for a balance between the actual scene and my reaction to it. I arrange the elements focusing on shape, contrast, and repetition to strengthen the composition. I use several underpainting techniques to establish the base composition and values of the painting before applying pastels. I work on the composition until I have captured the emotion of the scene adding more details until I feel the work reflects my original vision. I am happy when a painting is as rich as the landscape that inspired it.

My goal is to create work that focuses on capturing the essence of the subject. I enjoy painting a wide range of subjects, but focus on landscapes, to nourish my love of being outside.

• Nationality: UNITED STATES
• Date of birth : unknown date
• Artistic domains:
• Groups: Contemporary American Artists