WHY I PAINT: EARTH DAY REFLECTIONS
Susan in her Park City gallery.
In the midst of these unsettling times, I am feeling so grateful for the immeasurable acts of humanity taking place around the world. Our shared experience is connecting us together in ways we never conceived.
People are turning inward, relying on solitude and nature to draw inspiration and comfort as never before. Today's forced seclusion and wake up call to stay healthy has once again granted me the luxury of time to ponder what really matters. The clarity that our seclusion affords is a gift and it motivates me to renew my pledge to truly appreciate, exalt, protect and preserve the beauty of nature through my art in every way I can.
This is why I paint. Painting brings me comfort and tranquility. Likewise, I sincerely wish for everyone's health and safety and ability to find a similar sense of peace appreciating and advocating for the wonders of the Earth and the enduring human spirit.
May we aspire to celebrate the Earth today, tomorrow and for future generations to come.
Blessings,
Susan
WHY I PAINT
FOR JOY
NATURE’S BOUQUET 35, 18 x 36"
I am looking for delight in the day-to-day. During this stretch of quarantine time, I am spending long hours in the studio, diligently working away. I pray the energy behind my work provides a glimpse of sunshine for those who need it most.
WHY I PAINT
FOR NATURE
Madagascar, 2019.
In every medium, artists are truth-tellers.
I paint the beauty of the natural world because I want to raise awareness about the threats to it. This is what I do. My art is a direct reflection of my appreciation for and concerns about the environment. Mankind’s carelessness with the natural world has had a very personal and damaging effect on my health. I paint now from a place of spiritual reverence for the natural world and a determination to share my experience and vision.
Nature is what sustains us. We seem to have forgotten this truth.
If I can make people pause and see what is real during this busy age when we all hurry through our lives, if I could make people see the unsentimental beauty of nature for one moment, then I will have met my goal.
WHY I PAINT
FOR STILLNESS
CONTEMPLATION UNVEILED, 72 x 72”
I started painting the Contemplation series during long stretches of reconfiguring. Typically, I work in bright, saturated colors, but at this point in my life, I needed to find moments of stillness. It is an expression of how nature brings rest and peace to my life when things feel uncertain and chaotic.
SHARING THE STORY
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SHARE A POEM
STAY CONNECTED
Excerpt from Terry Tempest William's book Erosion & Susan Swartz painting Spring Muse 7.
Poetry is one of the many ways Susan finds inspiration in the studio.
What keeps you going? What helps you reflect? Share a poem and we will match them with Susan's paintings to share with our social media community.