Live Panel: Art Critiques Susan Harrison-Tustain and Brad Teare

Oil | Watercolour

I am often asked how long I have been painting and teaching in watercolor.  I generally say “forever” and I have loved every minute of it.

There is nothing more rewarding than seeing the joy on artists’ faces and their body language when those ‘magical breakthroughs’ resonate and the ‘light bulb’ switches on and glows like a beacon.  I know how the things I share in my teachings impacted on me when I was exploring and experimenting. Each new revelation lead to a new understanding and a new awareness that allowed me to find an exhilarating new path forward. These are the things that revolutionized my paintings and painting career and these are the things I love to share with artists.

For me, painting is about creating a work that evokes an emotion, tells a story – often resonating with the viewer as they draw from their own memories – from their own history. The magic happens when a painting invites the viewer to step into the world of the painting.

I love to share how artists can create a connection between the artist, painting and viewer. That connection often stays with the viewer long after they have left the presence of the painting. This is the magic I love to weave into my composition and my brush strokes – and to share with the viewers of my work and the artists I am mentoring.