Susan Schmidt

'Seaburbia'

My latest series of works Seaburbia were initially inspired by the 'beach shack', a gradually disappearing  icon of Australian suburbia,  particularly around Queensland's Sunshine Coast where I live.  Often viewed as ugliness, these houses were once places of pride, homes to dreams and aspirations and eagerly anticipated beach side holidays.  Some are loved again and live on but all too often they are delegated to the relics of fading memories, tentatively awaiting their future.  

The works are composed and painted in acrylic from photographed material in a hard-edge style.  Sand, egg shell and shaved oil pastel are added for texture.  Texture is pressed into impasto, patterns are stencilled and glazes are washed over layers of colour creating a history in the works.  A history like the peeling paint on walls revealing the layers of time, each layer a different story, a different occupant. 

The exaggerated primary and secondary colour and colour reminiscent of the 50's is balanced  to evoke nostalgia and create bold, contemporary interpretations of our seaside suburban history, to be loved again and live on even if on canvas.

Susan Schmidt's art is bold, contemporary realism.

Primary and secondary colours in every hue, impasto and rich glazes rendered in a refreshing and individual style.

A natural painter, enjoying the freedom of fine art after many years experience as an award winning graphic artist.

Susan's works are represented in private and public collections nationally and internationally.