Oil Painter Susan Gill Jackson has learned to succeed in her art by letting go. Her best paintings result is when she trusts her instincts and doesn’t over analyze a work in progress. “I like to play with paint – squish it back and forth,” Jackson says, “I try to do it in one shot and then I want to be done with it.” Her studio is in a barn just outside her hometown of Steamboat Springs, Colorado, but she takes her paints everywhere he goes. She travels the country in pursuit of art, and has made several trips to Catalina to do what she does best and has captured the remote beauty of the island in her work. Last year was her second time participating in Catalina’s festival of art. She was introduced to Catalina many years ago when she took a plein air workshop in Colorado. The workshop was conducted by Avalon’s own artist in residence Stan Sampson, a member of the Plein Air Painters of America. She was hooked on plein air painting as soon as she started it. Her background is in graphic design and she has worked in stained glass art windows, illustrated children’s books and painted murals. But it was an introduction to plein-air oil painting that plugged her into her artistic destiny. “When you paint outside, you see so much more color,” Jackson said, “and as an artist, I love to paint, and I love to be outside.” Susan is a member of the Catalina Art Association and
her work is available at the Casino Art Gallery and the Catalina Artists’
Market as well as at Sheldon Fine Arts in Naples, Florida and Art for
Living Gallery, in Solvang, California. She also participates in many
art shows in Steamboat Springs, is active in the town’s art community
and was a driving force in organizing an artist co-op there. “Steamboat
Springs will soon be on the map as an art destination,” she said,
adding, “There are so many local artists rallying together to bring
the art community together.” |
Copyright Susan Gill Jackson ©2006