Susan Fahrni emerges from the Columbia Valley: Ready for the Show

Artist Statement

I love nature and I love to try to capture it on canvas. Everything I paint means something special to me, whether it’s a scene I’ve tried to capture before it disappears, a view that holds special memories, or a glimpse of a part of our valley that I want to share with others who might not otherwise have access to it. The places I paint are real and as I paint I am ‘there’ be it perched on a mountain ridge, sitting by a lakeshore or standing upon a tussock of grass in the wetlands.
I generally work from photos, however, for me, capturing the images in paint on canvas gives them an importance, value, and even permanence that I feel photography can not.
I begin a piece by drawing key shapes on the canvas then washing a thin layer of paint on to block in the major features. I then start working from the background making my way forward envisioning what is behind and hidden by each slope, tree, etc. before I paint it. For me this working in layers gives each scene its veracity and depth.
Sunlight and its effects fascinate me. I have always admired the stained glass of medieval Europe and I love the way the sun illuminates it and shares the coloured glow with the world below. It is a man-made tribute to God and the world He created. However, His work cannot be surpassed as sunlight gives life and purpose to the colours of the real world giving them an “unearthly” glow.
When my work is going well, I feel a sense of awe and wonder and a thankfulness that I have been allowed to capture and recreate our beautiful world. Having said that, I am not certain how it happens and feel that I’ve been witness to magic as the work paints itself having merely allowed me to mix the colours and hold the paintbrush.
As I work, in my mind I see the birds and insects, feel the warmth of the sun, the caress of a breeze, and hear the rustle of leaves, the buzz of insects, the chirp and call of birds. I am transported to whatever scene I am trying to capture.
I have come to realize that my art represents who I am: passionate, realistic, yet orderly and a stickler for detail, and very ‘down-to-earth’.

Sunday, August 16, 2009

Ready for the Show

I have managed to complete the latest painting in time to deliver to Pynelogs tomorrow. The exhibition opens Tuesday August 18th and runs until Sunday August 30th. I am excited and nervous all at once but am definitely looking forward to the Opening on Wednesday the 19th.

I love this view up Chalice Creek and the way the morning sun reflected this unknown peak into the quiet waters. It strikes me as being a happy picture.

Chalice Creek

20 x 24

acrylic on canvas

3 comments:

Advenures in the UAE said...: Wow! Stunning! Gorgeous! Surreal! This is one of my favorite paintings I have seen in your collection. You are producing some incredible paintings in such a short time span. You should be very proud of all your hard work and accomplishments as and artist. I am excited to hear about the Art Show held on August 19th. Hope all is well.; August 22, 2009 at 8:21 AM
Susan said...: Thank you! Your bias is showing and it might have something to do with your having "been there". The Opening went extremely well and the two small bird paintings sold. AGOG in Golden wants to hang Bugaboo Panorama and Trail to Earl Grey Pass when I can get them there. :); August 24, 2009 at 10:15 AM
Unknown said...: Hello Susan, i went in Invermere to Art Gallery and all your paintings are gorgeus! I couldn´t stop looking at the Bugaboos and painting where lake is reflecting the moutain. Such a details like rocks and snow, it looks so real. I bought postcard of Bugaboos. I´m looking forward to see your next art works. You have still so many places to go and all of them are so nice. Í wish you all the best.

Jan , (Slovakia-Europe); August 29, 2009 at 1:21 AM

Susan Fahrni emerges from the Columbia Valley

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Sunday, August 16, 2009

Ready for the Show

3 comments:

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