NEW CLASSSES

Residence at Pearl, 75 Pearl St., Reading, MA

WATERCOLOR (2 choices)

Independent/Advanced 

Bring your own project to work on. I will do demos each time to share tips and techniques, and give individual guidance on what you are choosing to work on. Previous experience required. Bring your own materials.

Mondays 9:30-11:00 am 

Jan 13, 27, Feb 3, 10, 24, Mar 2

Cost: $75 for six weeks ($25 deposit, balance due at first class)

Minimum 3 students, Maximum 10

Guided

Focus on Still Life. Painting from the same image, the class will be guided through the entire process and end with a finished painting. No previous experience needed. Materials list will be sent with registration confirmation. Note: Materials can be provided for an additional fee.

Cost: $85 for six weeks ($25 deposit, balance due at first class)

Minimum 3 students, Maximum 10  

Mondays 2-4pm 

Jan 13, 27, Feb 3, 10, 24, Mar 2  

To sign up for a watercolor class, send an email with your class preference to susanm220@byu.net. 

Send a $25 deposit via PayPal (susanm220@byu.net) or check to address in confirmation email. 

ZENTANGLE

Drop in class to practice and learn the Zentangle drawing method. Relaxing and meditative method to create lovely images. No previous experience required. "Anything is possible one stroke at a time."

2nd and 4th Wednesdays, 1-2pm

Cost: $5 per person, due at each class

Materials included

Also, I am offering Watercolor classes at LexArt (lexart.org) on Friday mornings. If that time works best for you, please consider signing up there. I hope to see you soon!

Zentangle Classes

Woburn Public Library, 45 Pleasant St.            Friday, Nov 22 10am-12 

Stoneham Senior Center, 136 Elm St.              Monday, Nov 25 1pm-3pm $10

Reading Senior Center, 49 Pleasant St.            First and Third Wednesdays 1pm-2pm $5

                                                                                 Dec. 4, 18, Jan. 15, Feb. 5, 19, ... 

I am happy to share one of my newest paintings, "Momentary Treasures."
This piece took third place in Watercolor at the Reading Art Association show recently.
I enjoyed using new experimental techniques to add texture
and a little bit of mystery with this one.

I began by preparing the surface of the watercolor paper with a gesso and medium mixture using different materials to "print" some textures. It was all white on white at that point. The real magic started when I added a two color wash and began to see what texture patterns emerged. From there I painted rock, snail, and seaweed using a photo I had taken as reference.

I plan to continue to explore this technique and see where the treasures lie.

New Experimental Watercolor

Peaceful Place

Hide and Seek

First Place Watercolor, Woburn Guild of Artists, Nov. 2017

A few new, experimental, watercolors that will be on exhibit at Lexington Open Studios April 28-29, 2018. I'm enjoying the process of "finding" in these experiments. I hope you find something to enjoy in them also. More to come!

"Along The Way"

Watercolor

This painting was completed a little over a year ago. I entered it in the Reading Art Association Spring Exhibition in 2016. I was so pleased to receive the "Best in Show" Award. In the Fall of 2016, the Woburn Guild of Artists awarded this painting "Best in Show" in their show as well.  Thank you so much for the encouragement and recognition.

I have had inquiries of whether there are prints available for purchase. I am checking into that possibility.

Volendam Rain
20 x 5

In October I was able to visit Volendam, in the Netherlands, for the first time. The day was cold, gray, drizzly and beautiful. A view from the ferry inspired this painting. I took plenty of photos on our trip, and I expect many will become paintings.

Happy New Year!

Underwater Dance

14" x 20"

This is my latest painting of my fun fish. I've done a few with some groups of fish, but wanted to try something a little different, really showing some emotion. This one will be in a local show with two other fish themed paintings this coming weekend here in Reading, MA. I hope people enjoy seeing him, especially after this crazy, tough winter we have had this year. 

Keep Smiling

Watercolors Show, February 2014

Rocks & Claw

My first solo show is hanging at Beanetics in Annandale, Va. I'm very excited about this opportunity and hope you'll drop in if you have a chance. The show is only my watercolors. It's been challenging to prepare the show in a single medium, challenging, enjoyable and educational.

I've learned quite a  bit more about watercolor. Putting a cohesive show together started with making choices of what to paint, so I decided to look at all the photos I'd taken while travelling with my family. I take pictures of things that fascinate me, kind of like a photo journal. Looking back at them I noticed some themes, mainly texture, shape and lighting. While painting these scenes I was able to study more closely all of these things and remember the reasons why that shot captured my attention. The world is a beautiful place and I'm so grateful for it.

 

A view from Mom & Dad's backyard. It was April at the time, still snow all around. We went skiing on that trip.

This guy is from a drawing class, it's a demo I did for the kids showing some charcoal technique. Turned out kind of sweet. The kids are working on drawing animals, and animal faces.

I found this cute little guy the other day when I was going through some papers. This is a research sketch for a painting. I had just grabbed some scrap paper at the library and made this quick sketch and notes. It's really fun to find something after it's been hidden for a while. A little present to myself.

I'll be offering Week-long, Half-day art camps this summer for children and teens. This is a photo of a fanciful birdhouse made for an Upper Elementary School. One of our projects will start with a basic birdhouse then imagination will take over. Each student will choose a character or style to complete their own personalized birdhouse. All projects will emphasize personal expression.

Let's get creating!

 

    GARDEN ART CAMP

Garden themed art projects such as a Stepping Stone,
Fanciful Birdhouse, Garden Sculpture, and others.
Hands-on 2- and 3-D projects
Imagination and enthusiasm required!

Register by June 24.
    Monday- Friday 9:30am- 12 noon
Grades 6-8: July 15-19
High School: July 22- 26
Grades 3-5: July 29-Aug 2

Send email to gardenartcamp@gmail.com for registration information

Most materials supplied.
Students will be asked to provide additional items to personalize their projects.
Materials list provided at sign-up.
Family Discount: 15% off for second, and additional students from the same family

 

My art experience as an instructor includes: Local Rec Centers, Art Goes to School Programs in Public Schools, Private small group instruction at home and church settings. My background is in Graphic Design (BA) and Fine Art (Post Baccalaureate Certificate from PAFA).
   

Hey there, long time-- no post. I've just discovered a way to publish some of my work and offer it for sale. Check this out and let me know what you think.

http://society6.com/SusanMcFarlane

I painted four little flower images and have made them avialable as cards. One time I needed a small card and couldn't find one I liked. I wanted something simple, so I decided to do it myself. It took a little while to decide which flowers I most wanted to paint. I've always loved Lily of the Valley, so I did that one first. Behind my house, when I was growing up, there was a very large pine tree with wild Lily of the Valley growing at the base. It always looked like a little fairy land to me. We also had a lilac tree. The shape and color of the Forget Me Nots and the Bougainvillea drew me to them.
Enjoy!

Shared Interests

One of my favorite activities is also one of my son's. Here is a painting I did of him working on a project while visiting my studio.

My kids vetoed my first idea . . . so afterwards I did this sketch .
"Afterwards, he just took a nap." And now, so shall I as I try to get over this nasty cold.

Thanks for looking!

Catch up Time

 

For those interested, this is the large painting I did for the church event back in October. It was used for a background for families to have their photos taken at the Luau. We had a great time. This painting is about 9' by 12', painted on a canvas drop cloth with leftover latex house paint. I had a great time working on it.

This sketch is for IF Transportation. I didn't get it posted in time for the deadline. Turns out if I don't get things posted by the time my kids get home from school, it doesn't get posted that day. "My" computer is the "best" one of course, so it gets used for homework, FB etc. Teens, gee.

This is the sketch for IF Spooky. Also didn't get it posted in time for the IF deadline.


I'm currently working on the post for IF this week. I hope to get it done before the kids get home from school, LOL.

Thanks for looking!

IF Spent

Time well-spent, that's the idea that stuck with me as I pondered the topic this week. One of my favorite ways to spend time is with a good book. I love reading for myself, reading to my kids and browsing in bookstores. I based this painting on a sketch I made of my daughter and added some whimsy.

Thanks for looking! Have a great day.

IF Racing

I imagine leaves racing to the ground at this time of year. This image is all digital this time. I'm having fun exploring what Photoshop can do. I also imagine "nature sprites" riding the leaves. Perhaps they'll peek over the edge as they ride down, perhaps they just look at the sky as they spin to the ground.

The past couple of weeks have been difficult, so no posts for IF. I do have a couple of sketches for the topics, but they didn't make it to final form or onto the computer.

Thanks for looking!! Hope you are having a great day.

IF Beneath

Fishes frolicking beneath the sea. A piece I did previously, exploring painting fish in different views. I've been busy this week working on a large painting for a church event, so not much time for IL.

Thanks for looking!

IF Old Fashioned

For my third Illustration Friday I thought of this piece I did a little while ago. This image goes with an Old Fashioned poem/song that I learned as a kid. It represents "Monday Wash Day." There are others to come for the rest of the poem/song: Tuesday String Beans, Wednesday Soup, Thursday Roast Beef, Friday Fish, Saturday Pay Day, Sunday Church.  All you hungry brothers we wish the same to you.

Thanks for looking!