Born in San Francisco, Susan Pine spent most of her adult life in California, working in a family business, and as a veterinarian technician for 18 years. During that time she explored her art interest via drawing, ceramics, and black and white photography.
However, after moving to New Mexico in 2007, Sue began a serious pursuit of the visual arts, beginning with drawing and depicting realistic form in still life, florals, and architecture. As her interest in color grew, she added watercolor and acrylic to her repertoire of mediums. But it was in a workshop in abstract painting techniques where Susan discovered her true vehicle for creative expression. Working intuitively, she layers gesso, acrylic paint and texture to activate the painting's surface. Line, color, and marking define shapes and structure. "I've been told that my abstract paintings are both musical and meditative," noted the Artist, "which is interesting, since I do mediate and usually have music on while I paint." In 2015, Susan began exhibiting in group shows in Albuquerque. Her work has been shown in exhibits at Sumner & Dene, Tortuga Gallery, 606 Gallery, Studio J, The Matrix Gallery, OffCenter, and several other local venues.
Artist Statement
My artistic journey began with drawing, working with graphite and pen and ink for a few years before venturing into color. I used many mediums—color pencil, pastel, and watercolor—before settling into acrylic as my primary painting medium for the past few years.
Working with a putty knife, I begin intuitively, spreading gesso or modeling paste onto a surface, creating the first texture layer of the painting. My second step is to brayer or use a sponge with black or white paint to loosely indicate an image of a figure. Thereafter, watercolor-like layers of color are added, along with thicker applications. During the process of building up the painting surface, I emphasize shapes with intense hues, such as red, blue or black. There will be many layers before the painting is finished.
Viewers have told me that my abstract paintings are both musical and meditative; which is interesting, since I do mediate and usually have music on while I paint. The final image of each of my paintings comes out of this process.
