Washington Township, NJ – Heath Village is very excited to introduce its new Artist-in-Residence Susan Sumner. Susan’s The World is My Studio exhibit features her paintings from her recent trip abroad to the Netherlands where she visited Amsterdam, Harlaam and Delft. In addition to sharing her paintings, Susan discussed her approach to painting during the recent unveiling of her work.
Susan loves to paint outdoors and works in the style of alla prima (Italian, meaning at first attempt), a painting technique, used mostly in oil painting, in which layers of wet paint are applied to previously administered layers of wet paint. She works quickly to catch the fleeting light. She uses slow, soft edges that give the look of an oil painting – especially if applied thickly with expressive strokes. In her own words, “My paintings do not closely resemble the subjects…I am trying to become more abstract.”
While she has always loved art, she only started painting after retiring as a school guidance counselor. She has taken several art classes and workshops from many wonderful artists. Susan paints on location with NJ Plein Air (French for outdoors) Painters and with her fellow Heath Village artists during their weekly art group sessions.
Susan also writes a blog, The Artful Codger, which you can read at her website www.susansumner.com.
For more information about Susan and her artwork or to arrange a visit to the gallery, please contact Melissa Nichols at 908-684-5006.
