Category Archives: New Work

January 3, 2013 · 5:12 am

30 Paintings in 30 Days, Day 2, and Wiggly Squiggly Sperm!

My work is so detailed that this is quite a challenge to make 30 paintings in 30 days, especially since I need to complete new work for several shows and open studios coming up this Spring and Summer.

So today I played with paint. Even though my work is playful, it is so unlike me to go at something free form. This is a 5 by 7 watercolor on aqua board that is varnished. Love those luminescent paints!

My tools usually are my #3 pencil, Crow Quill pen, India Ink, and an eraser, even before I get to any painting. So hopefully tomorrow I will have finished another creature feature. They take the better part of a day to complete.

I certainly thank Kelley McDonald and Leslie Saeta for inspiring me to challenge myself. Sometimes it is the offhand comment that sparks a dream in one’s mind which propels us forward.

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Filed under Art, New Work

Tagged as 30 Paintings In 30 Days, Aqua Board, art, Chimeras, Imaginary Art, Kelley MacDonald, Leslie Saeta, Luminescent paints, Naive Art, Oneric, painting on aqua board, primitive style, Whimsical Art

December 30, 2012 · 10:05 pm

A Lovely Day For A Stroll

A Lovely Day For a Stroll

The snow has come and the air is cold but not for this elephant and giraffe. They are warm and cozy and have moved to a new home in New York City. Working on aqua board is a challenge as the surface is hard on my nibs. The color sinks into the medium and often requires more than one coat of paint, unlike how one normally paints with watercolors.

I have had a few days off and have made 4 more paintings in the style of Henri Rousseau although I have not yet painted them. My high school friend, Andie Ptak, a graphic designer, suggested I make an adult coloring book of my drawings. I am taking her advice and am scanning each of my drawings into my computer prior to painting them. I am not sure if I will follow through on this project, but I will have the scans should I ever decide to do so.

I wish you all a joyous and peaceful New Year. Thank you all for following my blog and supporting my journey as an artist.

And as the philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau said: “The world of reality has its limits; the world of imagination is boundless.”

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Filed under Art, New Work

Tagged as after Henri Rousseau style, curious creatures, elephant painting, giraffe painting, Henri Rousseau, Imaginary animals, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, jungle painting, Naive Art, Painting Imaginary Animals, painting imaginary landscapes, painting on aqua board, philosopher, Susan Medyn, whimsical watercolor, wildlife

December 19, 2012 · 4:24 am

Flaubert’s Stroll

Flaubert is taking a stroll through the jungle looking for someone to play with. He is a young elephant who has made friends with the kind giraffe and the rather raunchous leopard. He has a lighter and bluer sky in his background than this photo depicts. Night photography did not capture this as well as I would have liked.

Flaubert would be happy to come to your home for the holidays. He is 5″ by 7″ and framed in an oak and black shadow box. There are finely ground mica chips in much of the paint so this painting glows in the most delightful way. This is an ink and watercolor painting on aqua board that is varnished so that one doesn’t need glass to protect it.

This painting is for sale for $250 plus shipping.

Gustave’s Reverie

This is a 5″ by 7″ Ink and Watercolor painting on Aqua Board of Gustave the very mellow and friendly elephant who is dreaming about the holidays. Gustave is varnished and framed in a shadow box of black and oak. Gustave is for sale for $250. I have always continued to admire the work of Henri Rousseau and although this work is clearly in my style it is reflective of the influence of Rousseau. Gustave can be seen at The Art Stable Gallery Westport through December 23, 2012.

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Tagged as After Henri Rousseau, after Henri Rousseau style, Aqua Board, Art Stable Gallery Westport, Arts, bird, chimera, Dreamlike, Fantastical Creatures, Henri Rousseau like, Imaginary Art, imaginary landscapes, in the style of Henri Rousseau, Naive Art, Pen and Ink, primitive style, Stylized Art, Susan Medyn's watercolor's, Visionary Art, Whimsical Art

December 3, 2012 · 4:10 am

The Curious Jungle, or Paws For Reflection

Drawing inked in.

Painting in Process.

Curious Creature or Pause for Reflection

: Framed

I have been working on this piece, The Curious Jungle, or Paws for Reflection, for the past several days. I wanted to make a painting with a panther in a dense landscape. I am continuing to use ink and watercolor on Aqua Board and have really enjoyed looking through my books by Henri Rousseau while I have been working on this piece.

These works are getting away from the idea of the baseline and the register as I am mixing the flora and fauna together. I used several luminescent watercolors in this painting and one notices a reflective quality to it. It is nice to be able to varnish these works on board instead of framing them under glass. There is something special about getting so close to it.

This painting is 8″ by 10″ and framed in a black shadow box with a light maple exterior. This painting is for sale for $425.

If you would like to see it framed please email me at susanmedyn@cox.net.

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Filed under New Work, Studio

Tagged as after Henri Rousseau style, art, Fantastical Watercolor, Henri Rousseau type painting, Hidden creatures, Ink and Watercolor Painting, Luminescent paints, lush patterns, Naive Art, Orange trees, Panther on Aqua Board, Playful Artwork, primitive style, Stylized Art, Watercolor painting, Zengram

November 19, 2012 · 4:38 am

I’ve Got My Eyes On You!

I was working on this piece so that it would be in the Art Stable Gallery’s Holiday Open House yesterday. Thanks to everyone who came and joined in our holiday cheer.

In this painting, I went crazy with patterns.I love the work of Henri Rousseau and have made another painting influenced by his style. This leopard is eyeing the Mother Goddess. The bird monkey is wondering what the offspring will look like. That will be for another painting.

This is an 8″ by 8″ Ink and Watercolor on 2″ deep cradle board. You can see this work as well as many more of my works at the Art Stable Gallery weekends through Christmas from noon to 4:00PM.

This painting sold at the Holiday Open House.

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Tagged as Aqua Board Leopard, Art Stable Gallery Westport, Arts, Cradleboard, Folk Art, Henri Rousseau like, Henri Rousseau type painting, Imaginary Art, Ink and Watercolor Painting, Leopard painting, Naive Art, primitive style, Stylized Art, Visionary Art, Visual Arts, Whimsical Art

November 16, 2012 · 4:08 am

Pard On Me

Those of you who know the book, The Medieval Bestiary will recognize the Pard. Pards were feline animals with spotted coats that were known to be extremely fast, considered as fast as cheetahs. Pards would mate with Lions and have offspring that were Leopards. This is another one of my newer Henri Rousseau influenced paintings. I am working on 2 more at the moment.

This painting is done in ink and watercolor on Aqua Board and is 5″ by 7″. It is framed in a black shadow box frame and is for sale for $250. To purchase click the PayPal link below.

It will be on display at The Art Stable Gallery Westport starting Saturday unless it finds a home sooner.

Here is hoping you can come and meet the artists at our Holiday Open House on Sunday November 18th, 2012 from 2-5PM. It should be a lovely afternoon to browse the gallery and have a glass or two of cheer.

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Tagged as Aqua Board, art, Art Stable Gallery Westport, Chimeras, Dreamlike, Fantastical Creatures, Henri Rousseau like, Henri Rousseau type painting, Imaginary Art, Ink and Watercolor, Ink and Watercolor Painting, Jungle Scene, Leopard on Aqua board, Lion, Naive Art, Pard, Stylized Art, Susan Medyn's watercolor's, The Medieval Beastiary, Visual Arts, Whimsical Art

November 12, 2012 · 4:21 am

Flower Power with a little help from my friends.

Flower Power

I have been reworking this painting with some advice from Don Cadoret, Kathrine Lovell, and David Formanek and here it is! I found a lovely wooden shadow box to frame it in and it really makes this work pop out. I am busily trying to finish several Henri Rousseau influenced paintings for The Art Stable Gallery Westport’s Holiday Open House on Sunday November 18th from 2-5PM.

All 8 artists will be present with lots of new work so this will be a great afternoon to stop on by.

This is a 6″ by 6″ Ink and Watercolor on Aqua Board and is for sale for $200.00 framed in a shadow box.

Kind of knocks my socks off.

Sold.

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Tagged as art, Art Stable Gallery Westport, bear on aqua board, bird, David Formanek, Don Cadoret, Dreamlike, Fantastical Creatures, Fantastical Watercolor, Flower Power, Flower Power on Aqua Board, Flowers on aqua board, Henri Rousseau, Henri Rousseau type painting, Imaginary Art, Ink and Watercolor, Kathrine Lovell, lush patterns, Naive Art, naive painting, patterned painting, primitive style, Rhode Island, Stylized Art, Susan Medyn aqua board, Visual Arts, Watercolor painting

November 6, 2012 · 4:39 am

Yes We Can Again!

This is a 9″ by 12″ ink and watercolor of some very happy creatures.

This painting is framed in a light maple frame and for sale for $300.

Please vote today.

Celebrate!

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Tagged as art, Endearing, Fantastical Watercolor, Four More Years, imaginary landscapes, Ink and Watercolor Painting, Naive Art, Political, Presidential Election, Re-election, Stylized Art, Watercolor, Whimsical Art, whimsical watercolors, Yes We Can!

October 24, 2012 · 4:36 am

Kiss Me and work in progress.

This is a 6″ by 6″ ink and watercolor on aqua board. The man in the middle is filling his glass but the spotted pink creature is longing for a kiss. This work is for sale for $65 plus $5 shipping. Paypal button is above painting.