About Susan Larson Art
Welcome to Susan Larson Art, showcasing exquisite artwork in pastel and watercolor. Susan Larson's fine art pieces reflect a deep connection to nature's beauty and serene landscapes. Each piece is infused with a sense of tranquility and elegance, inviting viewers to immerse themselves in the artist's interpretation of the world.
Artistic Philosophy
Creative Vision
"My artistic gift is part of who I am, and pervades my life whatever I am doing. I am always observing and ready to capture a special moment. My work is realistic, but it is not my intent to exactly reproduce a scene. Painting is for allowing the viewer to see passages of light, pattern, heightened color, and edited subject matter in order to communicate a creative idea or impression."
Pastel Artistic Process
Susan begins from elements within her own photography using a laptop, or from plein air experiences and drawings on location. She uses two different pochade boxes for pastels, depending upon location accessibility and number of pastels she wants to carry. One is a Heilman, and the other a Guerrilla Painter. Both are set up on a Sienna tripod with adjustable legs for uneven terrain (with a great carrying bag). When painting on location it is easier to work out of the back of a vehicle (which helps get you out of bad weather quickly). Short distances on fairly level terrain means everything can be carried on a wheeled cart, or for longer distances everything gets put in a backpack. A comfortable stool (with carry straps) is a must and Susan uses them in her studio. She can use either pastel box in her studio, as she prefers no larger than 11" x 16" size sanded paper or ampersand boards to fit on the Heilman aluminum easel attachment. Using pastels is like painting with crayons - the "sticks" are large and if you want detail you have to use Prismacolor sticks or pencil. Susan uses softer Terry Ludwig, Dakota, and Sennelier pastels, along with harder Rembrandt sticks to build beautiful layers of color in her pastels. The depth of pastel layers depends on the support, or type of paper or board used. Brushes and palette knives can be used to apply color. Pastels aren't blended like paints, so you have to carry the colors you love to use with you depending upon the season. Don't forget a roll of paper towels and hand wipes to clean up. (Also pastels are fragile and breakable, and if you drop them they explode in all directions so if you are in an area you don't want color to fall on you need a dropcloth.) You also need glassine paper to transport the artwork keep it from rubbing against each other and getting wet. Having a tarp for your easel and you is great for afternoon thunderstorms. There is a reason why plein air painting is called the sport of art. You are going to have to carry everything with you and haul it around! Good hiking shoes are a must.