October 2023 Show

When first planning my October 2023 show at Sullivan Goss Gallery, I knew I wanted to make a shift in my color palette. At the time I was in the North Woods of Minnesota with a sketchbook and box of gouache paints. Using my setting as a subject I gave myself free rein on colors for a series of sketches. Below is one of the sketches.

Sketchbook ©2022 Susan McDonnell

When I got home to my studio I looked at all my painted sketches and created three sets of color swatches. The paintings for my show would live within these spectrums of color. One of the swatches is below.

One of three sets of color swatches

The studio walls have been slowly filling with paintings of these colors and details of the things I love to see. This lifted my spirits through the long monochrome winter of Minnesota. Which leads me to reflect on the “why” of what I paint. Perhaps it’s simply this: to slow down, pay attention and lift the spirit.

A work in progress and several little treasures

June 16, 2023