From the studio of Susan Harrison-Tustain
November 2008
November 2008
Newsletter page 1: Fine Art - Travel - Exhibition Richard and I have just returned from our 'Artist's Mediterranean Workshop/Tour/Cruise'. That was so much fun! Having just returned from holiday in Europe only two months earlier, we loved revisiting and sharing our favourite places leading our 'Mediterranean Odyssey' painting, photography and wine appreciation tour. We had such a brilliant time and were very fortunate to have a great group of 11 people with us.
I will sprinkle a few photographs throughout this newsletter for your interest. (Click images to enlarge.)
Many people are asking when I am planning to host my next exhibition. I am working toward Oct/Nov 2010 - but that date is dependent on a few things. Having just placed the final brushstrokes to a painting that will be the first in my New Zealand series of works, my spirits are soaring!
I want to keep the subject matter a surprise for now - but to give you an indication: I am in a very 'earthy' period where my work is infused with hues from the land - 'earth hues'. They are real, true and very much depict the essence of what I want to say about everyday life and the things that surround us all.
My travels have taken me to many inspirational and beautiful places. This exhibition will be rich in the natural beauty of these places. The commonplace, the genuine and unaffected life and everyday cameos that remain unchanged will be the theme of my next exhibition. My overwhelming passion is to immortalize these things with sensitivity and to create a feeling of agelessness.
In March Richard and I flew down to Stewart Island, New Zealand with our son Glen and his partner Kath. That was a life-changing journey. The pristine beauty of this natural environment touched me in a way I will never forget. Click here for more information about this remarkable New Zealand experience:
The pristine clarity, natural beauty and New Zealand character of this wilderness is breathtaking. I am driven to capture that feeling in a series of small pieces - not landscapes - but cameos of things that made this journey one that has left a deeply meaningful and enduring mark on my consciousness. It is going to be such a joy to capture all of this with the sensitivity and realness my watercolour paintings can portray.
There will be a greater number of smaller works in this exhibition than previously.
I have so many ideas and exciting things I can't wait to create - as I always say - one lifetime is never going to be long enough. My 2010 exhibition will be just as varied in subject matter as always. But it will have three series of works, that tie together to create the theme I have in mind. More as time goes on...
Yes, we have just arrived home after conducting a fabulous tour focusing on art and wine appreciation, painting, photography and of course travelling to amazing places in Europe. I can't begin to tell you all the incredible things we did and saw and experienced with our intimate group of 11.
Many of you have shown great interest in these tours so as much as time allows, we may look at conducting another one in the next year or two. Let us know if the idea appeals to you and we will be sure to be in touch if/when something is possible.
If you are in London sometime - don't forget to visit the National Gallery in Trafalgar Square. It is huge, so do give yourself plenty of time. If limited, choose an era of work that appeals to you. I love the Dutch masters - so I immersed myself in that area.
There is also a lesser-known gallery that is well worth a visit: The Wallace Collection in Hertford House, Manchester Square, London W1U 3BN. It is just behind Oxford Street.
Both the National Gallery and The Wallace Collection have free entry.
After visiting the galleries, I sat perched on a wall in front of the National Gallery as I waited for Richard. It was 6pm - the clouds billowed in the sky as the setting sun coloured them in golds and oranges with purple cast shadows. A break in the clouds allowed an amber glow of light to illuminate a fabulous building across the square. It was quite stunning. It took my breath away and I made mental painting notes as I absorbed this late afternoon amazing sight.
Once again I was reminded how an interest and appreciation of art opens our eyes to these fleeting moments and the incredible beauty of the simple things in our lives. Busy lives leave little time for observation - but once our eyes and mind are open to them - life takes on a much deeper awareness. Travel and life in general are so much richer when we take the time to 'see' because around every corner there is something that can touch us and say something about where we are or choose to live, what we feel - or it may simply allow us to connect with reality on a new and much more meaningful level.
All of these things drive me to capture these compelling fleeting moments with sensitivity and to reveal their truth and in some cases, also their vulnerability. I believe that preservation of such ephemeral things is essential and I hope that the appreciation of such earthy naturalness will bring an awareness of their fragility.
Susan Harrison-Tustain ** Christmas shopping suggestion **
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