Plein Air in Provence

Painting in Provence was as exciting and challenging this summer as it always is. I especially enjoyed working on a series of plein air oils--you can take a look at them (as well as watercolors and sketchbook pages from the trip) here. As always, my students were a pleasure to travel with, and worked as hard--and drank as much wine-- as I did!

Web Article

Artist Network website has an article up called "Anatomy of a Painting" that analyzes my watercolor "Elegy". Take a look by clicking here.

A Summer Painting

I'm working this summer on a commission--a large still life triptych that is a return for me to the "Dream Table" series, this time in oil rather than watercolor. I'll be posting vignette details of "Spring to Summer" as I work my way across the tabletop. On my studio desk you can see some of the bounty of art books and postcards I brought back from Paris a few weeks ago, which I'll be perusing frequently in the future for ideas, technical help, and inspiration.

Colors of the Batey Update

My son Colin and I had a great opening for the "Colors of the Batey" show, which continues until July 1st at the University of Vermont Davis Center. We have sold six of the sixteen photographs and paintings--all sales are donated to the Clean Water Project for the Batey. Please take a look at the show online here!

Colors of the Batey Exhibit and Fundraiser

Last November my son Colin and I traveled to the Dominican Republic to deliver $4,500. we had raised to help a Haitian community there install a safe drinking water system. (You can read about our project here.) While we were there, Colin photographed and I painted and drew, with an eye towards continuing our fundraising for the community.

We are now having an exhibit of these paintings and photographs from the Batey Libertad at the University Vermont's Davis Center. You can see the show (including prices, purchase information and my sketchbook from the trip) online here.

We are donating all sales from the show to the Batey Libertad Fundacion to finish the safe water project. Please email me at sa@susanabbott.com for more information, or to make a donation! Even a little help goes a long way.

Vermont Land Trust Annual Report

The Vermont Land Trust chose a selection of my landscape paintings to illustrate their 2010 Annual Report. The VLT is doing great work conserving farms and forests across our state, including a 600 acre plein air painting paradise right across the road from my studio.

NRECA Mural installed

My mural for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association's Washington headquarters has been installed, and is featured in a recent issue of "Rural Electric" magazine:

"The NRECA Collection's shining jewel spans the mezzanine of the main meeting room--a forty foot mural that , according to artist Susan Abbott, captures the inspiring story of America's electric co-ops.
Abbott's vision consists of ten separate oil paintings completed in her northern Vermont studio in half-size, then digitally reproduced and enlarged before being installed on-site. Her work features a road and power line crossing regions, landscapes and communities, from coast to coast, and incorporates farms, forests, mountains, churches, a schoolhouse, and a co-op line truck, all in bright, uplifting colors.
'The concept popped into my head as soon as I saw the space where it would go", Abbott relates. 'Because rural electrification was a New Deal program, I thought about how it unified people in rural areas all across the country...My parents were big supporters of President Roosevelt, and the New Deal was a frequent topic of conversation in our house. So I understood my project from the outset.' "

Art and Safe Water Update

We did it! I'm delighted to tell you that, thanks to the generosity of my blog readers, we reached our goal of raising $3,000. to help buy pipe to bring safe drinking water to Batey Libertad. This community of Haitian workers in the Dominican Republic asked my son Colin's service group to help them buy the plumbing supplies, so that they could lay pipe from a clean water reservoir to their village. Colin and his UVM professor raised the rest of the sum needed, and we can now send the Batey Libertad the money they need to make a real change for the better in their lives. During Thanksgiving break, Colin and I will be visiting the Batey Libertad, where we'll paint, take photographs, and help with the project. Thanks again to all of you who donated--your gift is much appreciated by these deserving folks!
Photograph Colin Arisman

Update on the Safe Water project: We had a great trip to the DR and the Batey. Colin and I delivered the funds we'd raised, and the community is now at work with an engineer to design an effective water delivery system. We stayed busy taking photos, painting and exploring some of this beautiful country. I hope to get back there soon!

Art and Safe Water

I'm teaming up with my son Colin to help Haitian workers in the Dominican Republic bring clean, safe water to their community. We've set a goal of raising the $4,800 they need for plumbing pipe by the end of November. I'm donating the sale of the nine paintings (painted plein air in the Bahamas and Oregon last year) at a discounted price to help bring water to the Batey Libertad. Please email me at sa@susanabbott.com to reserve a painting. Thank you for sharing the gift of clean, safe water!

Roofs and Sky, 8" x 8", watercolor, SOLD

West Branch Gallery Exhibit

My new multi-panel landscape paintings will be included in the exhibit "Fresh Air" at West Branch Gallery in Stowe, Vermont. If you're in the area, please come to the opening on Saturday, August 28th, 2010, 6-8 pm!