Susan Powell Fine Art | 7/1-8/13 | Madison, CT

Summer Scenes

A group show at Susan Powell Fine Art celebrates summer in New England

Contemporary paintings of New England are as varied as its architecture, landscapes and weather. Susan Powell Fine Art in Madison, Connecticut, will present its 20th Summer in New England exhibition from July 1 through August 13. Gallery owner Susan Powell says, “The paintings in the show capture the unique light and atmosphere of the shoreline and New England’s charm in summer.”

Deborah Quinn-Munson, Break of Day, oil, 24 x 36"

Two moods of the ocean in the morning are captured in paintings by Deborah Quinn-Munson and Jeanne Rosier Smith.

The illusion of warm morning light in Quinn-Munson’s Break of Day is attained by a coat of warm coral color glowing through subsequent layers of transparent paint, echoing the reflection of the rising sun on the surface of the water. Grasses and woods are suggested in tones of green as they remain in the shadow.

Jeanne Rosier Smith, Unstoppable, pastel, 20 x 40"

She says, “When I paint, I am interested in bold color, energetic line and strong composition to convey a powerful image filled with atmosphere and light. I enjoy the contrast between the spirited execution of a painting and the serenity and peacefulness of the scene.”

Rosier Smith says, “The morning light coming through the crest of the wave takes my breath away. Rosy tints from morning light and warmer lime greens to ochres and olive sea greens add a visual excitement with bouncing color and light.” The breaking wave and spray in Unstoppable portray the energy of the sea and evoke its refreshing salty scent.

Paul BeebeL, Late Afternoon Light, Bar Harbor, oil on canvas, 18 x 36"

Del-Bourree Bach, Me and My Shadow, acrylic, 16 x 19"

The ever-repeating lapping or crashing of the waves is one of the mesmerizing attractions of the New England shore. Rosier Smith says, “Within the natural elements of water and sky I find nearly everything I need to compose and create paintings filled with reflection, movement, color, depth, light and atmosphere. This inspiration along with a desire to keep my message simple and clear result in paintings of the world that feel peaceful and beautiful.”

Neal Hughes, Rock House, oil, 12 x 16"

Paul Beebe paints a different feeling of light and atmosphere in his painting, Afternoon Light, Bar Harbor. As the sun sets, the warm, late afternoon light will become an afterglow, reflecting off the water and intensifying its reflections on the ship’s sails. Pleasure and commercial boats, including the four-masted schooner, “Margaret Todd,” maneuver about the harbor on a busy July 4 weekend.

Cora Ogden, Through the Cottage Window, oil, 32 x 28"

Sandra Wakeen, Out of the Deep, oil, 14 x 13"

Del-Bourree Bach paints one of the most beautiful New England birds strutting along the beach in Me and My Shadow. His great blue heron is self-absorbed, perhaps having waded in the water or having stood stock still surveying the water for fish. Powell recounts Bach’s process: “He applies thin layers of translucent washes of glazes to achieve the illusion of depth, putting his darker colors first up from the bottom, adding the heron at the end and the shells last in this painting.”

Neal Hughes paints along the shore from the Chesapeake Bay to Maine often capturing the subtle effects of light and atmosphere on commercial and residential buildings. He paints primarily in plein air. In Rock House, the late afternoon sun rakes across the façade of a house built above a rock ledge and brings color to the distant clouds. The mansard roof of the house places it in a brief period between 1860 and 1890 and was used in flamboyant buildings such as the Eisenhower Executive Office Building adjacent to the White House and more humble homes along the New England shore. —

Susan Powell Fine Art
679 Boston Post Road • Madison, CT 06443 • (203) 318-0616 • www.susanpowellfineart.com