OPEN STUDIO WEEKEND

Those dates for the Open Studio Tour are 

coming up fast, and I hope to see a

lot of you over that weekend. That's always
the very best part!

Tucson Pastel Art Center

February 2 and 3

2447 N. Los Altos Ave

10:00 AM to 4:00 PM both days

Los Altos is one block west of 1st Ave. 

Here are a few of my recent works.

See more art at:  https://susan-woodward.com/

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Mini-Max Winter 2018 - Opening Reception

OPENING RECEPTION

"Agua Caliente"

"Windy Point Study"

I'm delighted to announce that the above paintings

have been juried in for the Sonoran Plein Air Painters

Mini-Max Winter 2018 show. These two are just

6" x 8" each - so they are part of the "Mini" half.

The opening reception is Sunday, December 9,

at Murphey Gallery, St. Phillips in the Hills, 

4440 N. Campbell, Tucson 85718,

from 12:15 to 2:30

The show will be up until January 11, 2019

Please call 520-465-6409 

I will be at the reception and hope to see you.

Happy Holidays to everyone!

"Coyote"

Recently finished this coyote and have been letting it 

sit for a while to make sure I didn't need or want

to tweak it somewhere.

8" x 10" palette knife oil on canvas panel

Here's the photo I worked from.

I've decided I want to do another, larger,

painting as well. Enlarged the coyote and have it 

set up on a 10" x 10" canvas panel, with 

less background. Can't wait to start. 

I saw him again last week on my walk, 

but my camera was in the shop.

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newsletter at:  https://susan-woodward.com/email-newsletter

Plein Air Study

© Susan Woodward "Windy Point"

6 x 8  inch palette knife oil on canvas panel

Click to Purchase

On an early May morning, a friend and I drove to this wonderful setting, Windy Point, about 2/3 the way up Mt. Lemmon. We painted for about 1-1/2 hours, and by then the wind was about to blow over our easels and send gear flying. I finished this in the studio. I became entranced by the rocks and the view, so plan to go back again.

I love to read. As a matter of fact, that love wars with my love and desire to paint! Recently I read a book that sort of blew my mind and thought it was worth recommending:

“Factfulness: Ten Reasons We’re Wrong About the World – and Why Things Are Better Than You Think” – Hans Rosling

Although there are real, serious, concerns, it seems that the world is in far better shape than we think. Our belief about how things are is skewed by our instincts.

How would you answer the following question?

In the last 20 years, the proportion of the world population living in extreme poverty has…

A: almost doubled

B: remained more or less the same

C: almost halved

The author poses simple questions about global trends like the above, and has tested audiences from all over the world, highly educated people, even senior policy decision makers. A stunning majority of them get it wrong. The correct answer is C – so if you got it wrong (I did) you’re in excellent company.

The book examines each of our instincts – shows us how to recognize when our thinking is being warped by it, and then gives us guidance as to how we can control it.

A fascinating and moving read that will change the way we see the world. If you take my advice and read it, please let me know what you thought.

"Palms at Agua Caliente"

SOLD!

From a morning of plein air painting with friends

at Agua Caliente park in Tucson

Palette knife oil on 8 x 6 inch canvas panel

#ArtWorkLivingChallenge

Day #1 of the Challenge

Palette knife oil on 6 x 6 inch Arches paper for oils

The challenge is to do a daily painting for five days, completing in

20 minutes. This took me 45 minutes so I have much practice ahead.

Painted from a photo of Powell Point in Southern Utah.

"Sunrise"

Palette knife oil on 6 x 6 inch Arches paper for oils, mounted

on Crescent mat board - $75

My cat Bijou wakes me at 5:00 AM. The ONLY good thing 

about that is that I get to see some of the most awesome sunrises during 

our Arizona monsoon season. I'd really rather sleep some mornings, 

but if I have to be awake, this is a pretty nice way to start the day. 

And they just beg to be painted.

"Clouds Building"

"Clouds Building" - All Arizonans look forward to monsoon season during the summer. 

The rains are more than welcome, and the skies are amazing. 

Not so easy to paint, but well worth the effort.

Palette knife oil painting on 6 x 6 inch on

Arches paper for oils. 

"D'Anjou Dance" 

SOLD

 This one is a little wild, and was lots of fun to paint.

Palette knife oil painting on  6 x 6 inch Arches 

paper for oils, mounted on Crescent mat board.

30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge

"Red Anjou Arriving"

SOLD

"Red Anjou Coming" - decided it was about time for a color change.

 It's always fun working with reds - so vibrant. 

I did this using the "destroy & rebuild" technique.

Palette knife oil on Arches paper for oils, mounted

on Crescent mat board

30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge

D'Anjou #4

SOLD

Day 11 of the 30/30 Challenge - seems like I'm on a roll with pears at the moment. 

This is a "destroy & rebuild" technique. I paint the pear with my trusty 

palette knife, then pull a brush through it in every direction. 

I always have to take a deep breath and hold it when I do this. 

Then I pick up the palette knife again & rebuild it, just somewhat. 

If I'm lucky, it works; if not, I scrape. 

Palette knife oil on 6 x 6 inch gessobord.

30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge!

D'Anjou #3

SOLD

Palette knife oil on 6 x 6 inch Arches paper 

for oils.

I just knew there were going to be more pears!

More to come - I'm behind on posting.

30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge

"Farmers' Market"

Painted from a photo taken at the farmers' market

at Steam Pump Ranch in Tucson, AZ.

These squashes looked so delicious and colorful,

they just had to be painted.

Day #2 of the 30/30 Challenge

Watercolor and pen on 6 x 6 inch 

Pentalic 130# paper.

30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge!

"Wallflower"

SOLD

As I was painting this, it occurred to me that two of 

the pears were quite cozy, while the third was kind of

separate, leaning against the wall in a corner. It

reminded me of dancing class all those decades ago!

Day #1 of the 30 in 30 Challenge: 

6 x 6 inch palette knife oil on Arches paper for oils, 

mounted on Crescent mat board.

D'Anjou Pears - Another Series?

D'Anjou #2

SOLD

6 x 6 inch palette knife oil on Arches paper, 

mounted on Crescent mat board.

Ah! Another pear. I guess the series is really underway. 

I really like the blush of pink on this one.

D'Anjou Pears - Another Series?

D'Anjou #1

SOLD

Palette knife oil painting on 6 x 6 inch Arches paper

for oils, mounted on Crescent mat board.

It appears I may be starting another series. I'm not sure how

far I'll go with it, but it is so much fun to paint these

small pieces, playing with color and technique.

Sometimes, I just can't help myself!

STARTING OVER, Minneola #6

Minneola #6

SOLD

The last of this current series, though definitely not the last, 

as I have too much fun painting them.

Palette knife oil on 6 x 6 inch Arches paper for oils, mounted

on Crescent mat board.

STARTING OVER, Minneola #4

Click to Bid

Minneola #4

Palette knife oil on 6" x 6" Arches paper for oils,

mounted on Crescent mat board.

This is the "destroy and rebuild" version.

STARTING OVER, Minneola #3

Minneola #3

Click to Purchase

A bit of rule-breaking in this marbleized version, which

allowed me to splash the colors around a bit.

I really like the result!

6" x 6" on Arches paper for oils, mounted on Crescent mat board.

Thunderbird

Click to Buy

This one reminds me of the Navajo jewelry featuring the Thunderbird.

 I used to sigh over the display at Jenny Lake Lodge in what is now Grand Teton Nat'l Park, 

and especially loved that design.

6 x 6 inch, inks, acrylic ground and soft pastel on Rives BFK, unframed