Great news!

You have asked for it and now we are ready to launch the:

Susan Harrison-Tustain School of Painting!

What does this mean for you?

• Susan Harrison-Tustain School of Painting On-Line Painting Critiques
• Susan Harrison-Tustain School of Painting  6 Month On-Line Painting Courses
• Susan Harrison-Tustain School of Painting One on One Workshop (in Susan’s studio)

The Susan Harrison-Tustain School of Painting is designed for all levels of skill from beginners to advanced and professional artists.

As artists we often reach a plateau in our painting journey - we want to move forward but are not sure how.

The Susan Harrison-Tustain School of Painting is specifically designed to help you understand and reach your full potential.
"After twenty years of teaching painting workshops in New Zealand, US and Europe, and an internationally best selling North American published book, as well as best selling watercolor DVDs - the demand for my painting tuition is far outweighing the time I have. So I have created The Susan Harrison-Tustain School of Painting where on an individual basis I can lift your work to the next level and beyond. My school of painting is about understanding your goals and then you and I working together to achieve them. Depending on which mode of tuition you chose, I can tailor an Art Critique, a personlized One on One Workshop in my studio or a 6 month Painting Course specifically to meet your needs.

A personal critique of your artwork, online workshop and private One on One painting workshops are the ideal way to learn how to paint in Watercolor and Oil – and extend your painting skills, understanding and knowledge.

Do you want help with your painting? Do you want to learn:

- how to choose your subject

- how to create the best compositions

- what to leave out

- what to avoid

- what to emphasize

- how to interpret your subject

- how to analyse your subject

- how to really ‘see’ you subject

- where to begin to paint

- how much water to use with your watercolor paint

- how to apply your paint

- how to create smooth washes

- how to paint underwashes and underpainting

 Just released and only two double spots left!

TOUR 2012

"Portrait of Europe  -

An Artist's Mediterranean Odyssey 2012"

~~~ A spectacular 29 day sight-seeing, painting, photography, wine appreciation and European cuisine tour! ~~~

Join Susan and Richard for a superb tour of their favourite haunts of Europe. A unique tour focused on sight-seeing, painting, photography, wine appreciation and European Cuisine.

Have you always wanted to visit Europe or return to some of the most incredible destinations Europe has to offer in a leisurely paced taylor-made tour?

But don't want to travel on your own?

Would you like to travel with a small group of like-minded people and in the security of a very  experienced tour guides who can take care of everything for you?

(Click on the image of the brochure to read the full itinerary. The brochure may take a short while to download as the beautiful image file is large.)

Join Susan and Richard with their small group for a magical, leisurely-paced tour to magnificent destinations. This is a tour with a difference. Specializing in unique tours, Susan and Richard have personally created an itinerary offering a trip of a life-time. Focussed on sight-seeing, there are also many opportunities if you have always wanted to try your hand at painting. Imagine sitting painting in an ancient European village cobbled street, or amongst the wild-flowers and summer grasses in a meadow below the Swiss Alps - cows with bells and snow capped mountains and chalets hugging the hillside. With waterfalls and the aroma of summer/autumn captured in every stroke - this is a tour that will take your breath away with the spectacular experiences we have in store for you. You may be an experienced artist - Susan will be there for you all - guiding you every step of the way.

Your passion may be photography. Where better than on a unique European tour to learn how to get the most out of your digital camera! Richard will be there to offer you his expertise as well as two workshops on how to take magnificent shots of the stunning scenery, markets, people, birds and all nature has to offer.

Richard will also conduct two wine appreciation evenings where he will share his vast knowledge and many magnificent European wines for you to explore.

While in Bellagio, Lake Como we will visit star chef Luigi Gandola's famous restaurant. We have a cook school booked for you which begins with a visit to Luigi's Mamma's vegetable and herb garden. Then it is back to the restaurant to try our hand at Italian cooking with Luigi's expert guidance. How idyllic! The icing on the cake of course is that evening we get to eat the foods in a banquet of fine food and wine! This evening will be the second of Richard's wine appreciation evenings.

Have you longed to cruise in a five star cruise liner along the French and Italian Rivieras? The quality of the cruise we have chosen and the fantastic destinations are outstanding and allow us to visit numerous places including Portofino, Cinque Terre, Florence, Amalfi, Sorrento, Capri, Taormina, Rome - amongst others in a leisurely cruise where there is time to soak up the flavour of each destination.

This is only a very small sample of the long list of magical destinations and excursions we have planned for this unique land and cruise tour - our 2012 "Portrait of Europe Tour'

Click on the image for the full itinerary. The brochure may take a short while to download as the beautiful image file is large. Feel free to contact Susan and Richard using their contact form if you have any queries.

This tour has only just been released. Already we see the tour is almost full. We hope you can join us for this trip of a life-time!

'Lost in Thought'
Oil Painting
© Susan Harrison-Tustain

Less than a week to go before my Recollection exhibition opening! It is very exciting. My favorite moment is when the exhibition is declared open and each marshal standing next to each painting, removes the cloak and reveals the paintings for the first time. There is always a moment of silence, then "Ahhhhhh!" Four year's work unveiled at one time. It is a magical moment.

The opening function is a beautiful event. Ross Bachelder who titles himself "The Flute Guy" is flying from Maine USA especially to play at my exhibition. You will have heard me say previously that Sir Ray Avery will be officially opening the exhibition and Jon Mayson will be MC. It will be a beautiful evening. So many people travel huge distances to visit my exhibitions so I love create an experience that won't be forgotten.

I love to hear guests say that particular paintings from previous exhibitions still remain in their memories. It is then that I know my paintings have spoken to the viewer. It is an awesome feeling. Humbling.

New Paintings are added to the exhibition gallery.

© Susan Harrison-Tustain

I hope you enjoy the new painting releases and the inspiration that compelled me to paint them.

I am still painting - trying to finish the last piece. It is a watercolor painting of two white doves sitting in a church alcove - with a stained glass window behind. I have titled it Lofty Refuge. When I have finished that piece I will post it here - but in the meantime - surprise!!!!!! here are some more new pieces you won't have seen yet. You can see a close up of these painting on my Exhibition 2011 page in the Fine Art section of this website.

For those coming to the exhibition - travel safely and I look forward to seeing you!

See you soon
Susan

'Bellbird'
Watercolour on Arches Hot Pressed 300 gsm (140 lb) Watercolour Paper
485mm x 190mm
(19 in x 7 1/2 in)
© Susan Harrison-Tustain

A picnic stopover at Mavora Lakes, Southland, on a back road to Lake Wakatipu and Walter Peek. So pure and so clear the Bellbird call drew our attention to this slightly nectar inebriated songster dashing amongst the flax flowers.

See more new original paintings on my exhibition page.

Mixing Greens

You will see I have created a number of different greens in this watercolor painting. Flax bushes are often a blue green on the under side and as the leaves turn away from the light - they tend to be a more yellow green on the front.
How do I create these watercolor greens? We all know that when a surface faces the sky - it is influenced by the blue or grey of the sky color. So you can see that very clearly in this painting. I use much less yellow in my green mix to give this illusion. My green mix is Schmincke Sap Green and a touch of Thalo Blue. If I need to grey the blue/green color a little - I add a tiny touch of Scarlet Red.

You can see the area away from the light is a richer more vibrant green. I use my  underwash of Aureolin Yellow Modern in these areas. I let it dry and then add my Sap Green, a touch of Thalo Blue and Aureolin Yellow. If I need a pale color - I simply use more water. You can see how I push my greens from warm to cool, light to dark, rich to pale. Painting green leaves is a fantastic way to learn how you can create a three dimension by allowing a color to dominate.

For example: more blue will give the impression of the sky affecting the green. More yellow in your green mix will give the impression that part of the leaf is away from the effect of the sky. A warm green gives the effect of the leaf being affected by shadow. Learn how to paint green leaves by creating a similar type of leaf. You will find these lessons invaluable. Not only for mixing greens but it will teach you how to apply this color theory to any of your color mixes - no matter whether they are oil paintings, watercolor paintings, pastel studies or acrylic paintings. It is all about observation. Have a look at the video below to learn more about the perfect green!
Have fun!
Susan

 

In my Art Lessons section you will find more helpful tips and articles.

If you want to learn more about Watercolor Painting and Watercolor Technique check out my Watercolor DVDs.

"Pisa Range"
Oil on board
495mm x 295mm
19½" x 11½"
© Susan Harrison-Tustain

The first light fall of Autumn snow dusts the peaks of the Pisa mountain range. Snow clouds begin to envelope the pinnacles bringing with it, the excitement of the change of season.  We call this place “Central” (Central Otago, New Zealand) - austere, raw, beautiful, haunting, vast skies above rugged ranges. Captivating, compelling and beckoning.

The oil painting technique I used for this painting began with an underglaze of a grey/purple. Once dry, I then used the block-in oil painting method of creating the basic 'local' color of each area. I used these colors as the basic mix to establish the different areas in the painting: variations of greys with tints of purple for the clouds, dark grey/greens for the foreground, pale purple/greys for the light areas of the mountains and of course blue for the sky - all helped me establish the basic painting layers. I left my underpainting to show through in some areas - especially in the mid toned mountain peaks.

The next step is to observe the changing colors within each section, mix those colors and apply the detail - keeping it true to nature. Each area has a myriad of hues that describe this light snow fall, the forms - with sharp as well as rolling edges and shapes.  There are many painting lessons within each of these subjects. Too many to write here of course. For those of you who are artists and would love to learn how to paint skies, clouds, mountains, falling snow  - I hope to release an oil painting DVD in 2012 that will cover all these things and so much more.

I also plan to release a new watercolor DVD. This one will focus on mini studies of many subjects: capturing numerous subjects. If you are not currently on my mailing list - do join up.

My newsletters are infrequent but they are full of valuable information, painting breakthroughs and discoveries, news on exhibitions, new DVDs, workshops, European tours (next one will be in 2013), newspaper, magazine, TV and radio appearances etc etc.

In my Art Lessons section you will find helpful articles.

If you want to learn more about Watercolor Painting and Watercolor Technique check out my Watercolor DVDs.

Happy Painting!
Susan

'South Island Tomtit' Watercolor on 300 gsm Arches Hot Pressed paper size: 16" x 10", 410 mm x 255 mm © Susan Harrison-Tustain		'Stewart Island Robin' Watercolor on 300 gsm Arches Hot Pressed paper size: 12" x 7 1/2", 300 mm x 190 mm © Susan Harrison-Tustain

Stewart Island, New Zealand has a well deserved pristine, clean, green reputation. Stunningly beautiful this land feels almost prehistoric and it is not hard to imagine this is what most of New Zealand must have been like before man arrived. Almost predator-free this place has a mystical atmosphere. The bird song and wild-life as well as the native forest, Manuka scrub and wilderness is awe inspiring. An artist's mecca. It is here that I studied many of our native species including the South Island Tomtit and the Stewart Island Robin that will feature in my 2011 Recollection exhibition.

The South Island Tomtit flittered from branch to branch in a native forest area that was covered by a dense canopy of tree tops - shading the undergrowth from sunlight. A stream trickled beside the track and the almost luminous green moss covered everything in sight. Quite beautiful and almost surreal - this place was a heaven for bird-life.

Preview of the framed paintings:

We were also befriended by a gregarious Stewart Island Robin. He was our 'shadow' for about one kilometre of our tramping day. When we stopped - he stopped. He would sit nearby as I sketched - daring to draw closer and closer. My shoe lace was his ultimate target and as he tugged at it and then darted back into his perceived 'safe zone' - I was able to make quick sketches and notes for the study you see here.

My painting technique for feathers begins with underwashes of local color. I then use a dry- brush watercolor method. This is ideal for capturing the texture of feathers in watercolor. Layers of watercolor drybrush emulate the natural layering - and careful color selection and mixing help to create the feeling the viewer can reach into the painting and touch the feathers.

When painting bird studies I like to observe closely the pattern on the feathers, how they lay - one on top of the other as they protect and also repel rain. They way the texture of the feathers differs between the ruffled soft downy feathers in one area and the stronger more stiff feathers in another is always fun to observe and portray. I also note the amazing color patterns on each feather. The challenge is not to simply depict the bird - but it is to portray it's character within the paint layers. I hope you can feel something of the nature of each of these beautiful creatures.

Feel free to contact me via my contact form if you have any queries.

~~~~~

Learn about my Watercolor Painting Technique in my Watercolor DVDs.

Learn about how to paint in my Free Art Lessons.

"Kaitiaki"
Mixed Media on Flax Paper
350 mm x 440 m
13 1/4" x 17 1/4"
© Susan Harrison-Tustain

A chance meeting lead me to create this painting. I met Wallace Aramoana while I was visiting Ohiwa Harbour, near Ohope Beach, New Zealand. This is a man whose impact on his community, land and the youth of the area is legendary in that corner of NZ. My painting of Wallace was created on flax paper. I wanted it to capture his connection to the land. I wanted this to be a tribute to this man of the land and a man of his people. The New Zealander. Wallace believes this land is for everyone. Meeting this Maori elder was a life-changing experience for me. I wanted to title the painting "The Orator", but his reply was "No - that would be about me - I would like it to be about all of my people - 'Kaitiaki ' (translates to Caretakers of the land. )

How perfect that title is. It also relays the respect and admiration I have for this man. To paint him is an honor for me.

Click here to visit my painting exhibition page where you can find details on the exhibition including a sneak preview of some of my exhibition oil and watercolor paintings.

Feel free to contact me via my contact form if you have any queries.

~~~~~

Learn about my Watercolor Painting Technique in my Watercolor DVDs.

Learn about how to paint in my Free Art Lessons.

Part II of my Colour Lesson about creating a glowing red  is posted here.

I had so much fun creating this Red Parrot Tulip and while developing these glowing red washes, it occurred to me that I should share this information with you all. Red is a notoriously difficult color to portray – unless you know what I am about to tell you.

This is not a step by step guide of how to paint this subject. What I want to highlight are a number of points relating to painting a glorious glowing red using this study as an example.

For those who missed it - here is the link to Part I or go directly to this link for Part II

In these lessons you will find info about warm and cool colours, shadow color, color temperature, creating glowing reds, yellow underwash ...

This Parrot Tulip study will be an ongoing tutorial where I will teach you many of the invaluable lessons that will help you create form with red – no matter which medium you choose.

In my Art Lessons section you will find more helpful articles.

If you want to learn more about Watercolor Painting and Watercolor Technique check out my Watercolor DVDs.

Happy Painting

Susan