Susan Swinand

Imposed Order, I

Inspired by: Unknown artist, Yellow Amber Beads

watercolor on paper on wood panel with UV varnish

12″ x 12″

2023

Much of my work has dealt with spontaneous, random reactions of pigment and water on paper. To me it is nature at work creating form. I am interested in the question of when it becomes art. Making art we impose our own order on nature. We choose and alter bits of nature to express our deepest ideas and emotions. I responded to the Amber necklace with radial symmetry and maximum impact to stabilize and control the random field.

FB -Susan McBriarty Swinand Instagram- SSwinand

Susan Swinand

Feel (Black Sun)

mixed media collage; xerox, acrylic on paper on wood

12″ x 12″

2021

Instagram:@sswinand Facebook: Susan McBriarty Swinand

Susan Swinand

The Blue Note, III (Dancers)

oil on wood

6.5″ x 8.25″

2022

I was thinking about blue and trying to use the colors and brushstrokes like building blocks, varying the brushstrokes to create a dynamic, rhythmic equilibrium. I thought the complex structures looked like dancers on a crowded floor.

@sswinand

Susan Swinand

My Complicated Heart

acrylic on plastic on wood

12″ x 12″

2024

I made this relief painting from a plastic form in a box of Valentine candy. It changed several times from a heart to leaf to a heart in the process of painting. I wanted the form to feel like it was alive and pulsing. I wanted the heart to express a range of emotions including passion, vitality and suffering.

@sswinand

Susan Swinand

Spicy

Inspired by: David Seltzer, Sea Salt/Lemon Sage Charles “Teenie” Harris, Cotton Candy Booth

cinnamon, black pepper, chili powder, turmeric, salt, cumin, poppy seed, collage, acrylic medium, pencil on canvas

8″ x 8″

2024

I started with the idea of a hungry mouth, but the drawing evolved into abstract shapes that relate to eating. I was influenced by the humor and appetite depicted in “Cotton Candy Booth” by Charlie “Teenie” Harris. I was also inspired by the geometric, salt piece by David seltzer and was curious to see what colors and textures I could get out of the spices. I wanted a simple, sensory, spicy, humorous image.

@sswinand /Susan Mc Briarty Swinand