Suzanne Carole Kuuskmae
Watercolor
ARTIST STATEMENT:
I retired from my teaching career at Five Towns College, Long Island, New York, in 1997 where I was a professor of business management. Shortly after resettling in the Los Angeles area, I decided to expand on my experience in a Betty Edwards workshop in which I became convinced of her premise that “anyone” can learn to draw.
My first adventures were at Palos Verdes Art Center in basic drawing with Jim Murray followed by a watercolor class with Cathy Cangro. Because I have always been fascinated with flowers, I then began botanical drawing classes with Olga Eysymontt at the Los Angeles Arboretum, and have been a student of botanical art ever since. I have had the opportunity to study with Ann Marie Evans who is the prime mover in the recent development of botanical art here in Los Angeles, and I also attended classes at Ann Marie’s studio in England during June of 2004. My work has been shown at the New York Horticultural Society, Palos Verdes Art Center, Palos Verdes Public Library, Filoli Botanical Art Exhibits, and the annual shows of the Botanical Artists Guild of Southern California held at the Los Angeles Arboretum. What most people find fascinating is that I had no prior art instruction before retirement but through diligent practice have developed my passion for painting plants in both watercolor and colored pencil.
Although I continue to work in watercolor, I have recently begun using a heat board developed by Ester Roi of Icarus Art to get the beautiful colors for my recent colored pencil work. I expect that I will continue in both water color and colored pencil.To purchase call: 310-991-7144 or e-mail gabrielle.artistsstudio.pvac@gmail.com
