Friday, June 26, 2009

"Suspended Animation" (Floral Expressions, Cedarburg, WI)

The Cedarburg Plein Air Competition and Exhibition was great. Karen and I had an excellent time painting their beautiful town and countryside. Next year we plan on staying two nights so that we can make more paintings. As it was, we each painted four and scraped away one. My big problem was painting in +100 degree temperatures and humidity. This painting happens to be my favorite because I love painting at night. The atmospher is just right for me. Few people are around, the town is at rest, the temperatures have dropped (a bit) and the lighting from neon and street lights creates wonderful glows. That's why I call this "Suspended Animation." The artificial lights make what is illuminiated pulse. Now if I could just carve out the time to hit Chicago at night I'd be a really happy camper.
12"x9" Oil on Linen

6 comments:

Marian Fortunati said...

Sounds like you and Karen are having a great time!!
Good luck with the show.

Janelle Goodwin said...

What an intimate, lovely painting, Susan. Sounds like fun - painting in the dark. I'd love to hear how you and Karen survived the heat. I think I would have passed out!

susan hong-sammons said...

Hello Marian, We did have a wonderful time painting. I think we both enjoy sharing the experience and critique each others progress.

susan hong-sammons said...

Hi Janelle,
I didn't do well with the heat even though I was in the shade and on grass. That's the painting I scraped away. It was a total waste of good oil paint. I was so hot I really couldn't think. Next time, I'll bring small canvases in case I have to face hot temperatures. Then I'll just give myself an hour before packing up and heading into the A.C to cool off. It's the same tactic I use for very cold temperatures. How do you handle tough weather situations?

Kathleen Krucoff said...

Hi Susan!

This painting has so many lovely qualities to it. The way you captured the lighting at night is wonderful.

Sounds like you and Karen had a great time in spite of the heat. I would have withered in those conditions.

The competition sounds like fun too. Looks like a lovely area.

Roxanne Steed said...

This is sooo beautiful. !!!!