Susan Luckey Higdon

2011-05-18T11:38:00.000-07:00

I am now blogging through my website www.susanluckeyhigdon.com
Please visit me there to see all of my most recent artwork!

2010-08-28T13:43:00.000-07:00

"Nature's Call"

Soft Pastel

26 x 17

Going through photos taken at Trapper's Creek of Kokanee going upstream to spawn, I was struck again by the patterns of color and shadow. The stream is crystal clear and the fish hang in relief over a pebbly bottom. That autumn day was magical at Odell Lake....the campground was closed for the season, but there were people quietly observing, not the fish, but the eagles in the trees waiting to pounce on the fish. For me, it was all about the fish. At first you don't realize that there are fish everywhere and then you see them. It's amazing and so pretty. And very quiet. These landlocked salmon don't die after spawning, but will return to the lake to repeat the cycle.

This is the kind of painting that paints itself. I just start and it flows. The deeper you look the more color and nuance you find. I would like to do this super large in acrylic. Oh, that would be fun.

2010-08-25T17:37:00.000-07:00

"Diversity"

15 x 11 image

Soft Pastel

When I first started painting fish underwater I went and took photos of them at the High Desert Museum near my home. The shallow streams and a pond brought the fish into close view. Recently I rediscovered the delight of seeing the fish and being able to take photos of their movements and observe their behavior. The brook trout are beautifully colored and smaller than the rainbow trout. The colors of the rainbows and young steelhead are more muted but they look like velvet in the water. I love the way they seem suspended in the crystal clear water. The pebbles of the streambed are like little gems.

Mirror Pond RiverFeast Art

2010-06-25T17:36:00.000-07:00

Mirror Pond Afternoon

24 x 12 soft pastel

I recently finished this painting for the Deschutes River Conservancy RiverFeast event this August 14. This was painted from the riverfront property where RiverFeast will happen. Since it's a summer event DRC likes the art to look summery, but I was starting the art when the trees had not even leafed out. We had a late spring this year, so the colors were still quite wintery. The view looking SW has the iconic Mirror Pond footbridge in it and initially I tried to paint most of the span of the bridge, but it was feeling static and overly "done". I had a couple of false starts, until I landed on this view, where the reflections are the main part of the composition with the bridge very loosely rendered just barely in the frame. Rooftops peaking out of the foliage give it some interest too. The birch and willow trees have an ethereal look. Painted on a dark terracota pastel paper and letting lots of that color stay contrasts and is complementary to the greens.

Lower Deschutes River

2010-06-01T12:47:00.000-07:00

"Canyon Cathedral"

40 x 30 Framed

Soft Pastel

The lower Deschutes River threads through a long canyon from Warm Springs through Maupin and beyond on it's final run to the Columbia River. It's a desert river surrounded by high rocks topped by rattlesnack rock. The color and formations of the rock change around every turn throughout the day and is always awe inspiring.

Pine Tree With Flicker

2010-05-29T12:21:00.000-07:00

"Life in the Pines"

30 x 24

Acrylic on Canvas w/ 2.5" wrapped and painted sides

This pine tree is right outside the window where I sit and have coffee in the morning. It changes all day long, in every season, as the light angles move. I'm thinking of painting it at different times of the day like Monet's haystacks.

The flickers come back in the spring and can actually be quite a nuisance. Once they start pecking on your house to try to make a hole for a nest, they're almost impossible to divert elsewhere. When they peck on our chimney it echoes through the house! But, they're beautiful when they fly and have distinctive markings. And they love digging for insects on the pine trees.

This painting is in my show at Tumalo Art Co. starting June 4!

Osprey Catching Fish

2010-05-26T18:27:00.000-07:00

"Lunch"

12 x 24 acrylic on canvas

My nephew, David James Higdon, took these amazing photos of osprey last year while visiting us in Bend. He went down on the river trail near our home and positioned himself to where he could see the nest and capture the osprey coming and going, feeding it's young.

I wanted to keep the details of the osprey very loose and focus on the power and grace of the wings. I have a long way to go painting these dramatic, fierce birds.

Cranes in the Marsh

2010-05-21T13:32:00.000-07:00

"Soul Mates"

Soft Pastel

22 x 26 image

Sandhill cranes are so beautiful. Their white feathers show up so gracefully against the colors of the marshlands they're found in. These two remind me of a comfortable married couple, just going about their day.

This painting will be in my show "Walk Softly" with sculptor Kim Chavez opening June 4 at Tumalo Art Co. in Bend. Kim is premiering a larger than life sculpture of two intertwined herons, so this will be a nice compliment.

Fly Fishing in Eastern Oregon

2010-04-17T15:03:00.000-07:00

"Spring at

Lake At The Dunes"

28 x 12 image

Soft Pastel

Every year my husband goes to "Lake At The Dunes" in eastern Oregon to fish for the large trout that have been planted in the series of small lakes. I was struck by the line of trees reflected in the still water, whose bare branches give the stunning color to this painting. The barren hills have the first blush of green grass, soon to turn brown, and a lone fisherman disturbs the reflections with his cast.

This painting feels softer than usual to me, probably because the art spectrum paper I'm using has a light tint. I usually use the darker tints because I like the background color peaking through giving the color a bit of something to bounce off. But, for this piece,with it's delicate yellows and peaches, it feels like the right choice.

McKenzie River Trust Living River Exhibit

2010-03-24T10:22:00.000-07:00

"Rainbow Magic" will be in the Mckenzie River Trust Exhibit—"The Living River" at Jacobs Gallery in Eugene, OR opening April 2-May 1, 2010. I was excited to see that they used the image on the show postcard!

Trout Catch & Release

2010-03-24T10:04:00.000-07:00

"Sweet Release"

soft pastel

20 x 13

30x 23 Framed

$850

I've been wanting to paint this for quite some time. It's referenced from a photo by Tim Pask (with his permission) showing a rainbow trout the moment it is released. There's so much energy in the photo and the colors of the fish are bright turquoise, blue and purple. The water is amazing. I hope I've captured that drama. All along I wanted to paint this very large and so am working on a big acrylic canvas at the same time. It seemed like it would be fun to do one in each medium. I also love the natural abstraction of only seeing the fish's tail...

OPB Oregon Art Beat segment

2010-03-04T14:52:00.000-08:00

Oregon Art Beat

I had the good fortune to be interviewed by KC Cowan from OPB for Oregon Art Beat last spring and the segment aired last week.

It was very strange seeing and hearing myself onscreen, but in the end I felt it was a good portrayal of my work and thoughts about what's important to me about doing art. So, I just feel thankful to have had the opportunity!

To see the segment go to:

http://www.opb.org/programs/artbeat

Summer on the Lower Deschutes River

2010-03-04T14:41:00.001-08:00

Summer on the Deschutes

18 x 24 unframed Soft Pastel

The photo I worked from for this painting was taken last summer by my nephew David James Higdon on a fishing trip to the lower Deschutes river with my husband Tim and son Jackson. I asked him to take some photos showing the warm reflections of the surrounding canyon walls in the water. Tim informed me that the poplars on the right are not indigenous, but were planted near a homestead. There is nothing like the canyons of the Deschutes on a warm summer day...and this brings back that feeling.

Large Trout Art

2010-01-25T12:22:00.000-08:00

"Big Boy"

36 x 18 Acrylic on Canvas/wrapped sides

$975

This nice, fat rainbow is from a couple of photos that photographer Tim Pask sent me. Crystal clear water and incredible reflections combined with the pebbles in the streambed frame the fish and create lots of interesting things to paint. The fish has lots of spots. Spots are the hardest part of the fish to render. I'm not going for a photographic image, but an impression, so I dab them on, wait a minute and then wipe them off. This seems to give the best indication without getting tight and obsessive.

High Cascade Creek

2010-01-14T14:49:00.001-08:00

"Under"

revise of "Cascade Zen"

Creative block is not a fun thing. It often happens around the holidays. My studio is full of wrapping paper, my head is full of lists and the bank account is dwindling. Not really conducive to spending time at the easel.

But now...it's time. I get my body into my studio and sit on a stool. I get out photos that have inspired me, consider mediums and substrates. I decide "Cascade Zen" really should be painted over because I need the canvas. But, I've always loved one part of that otherwise somewhat problematic painting—the reflection of the trees on the right hand side. All of the sudden the light goes on and I wonder if I can turn it over and let those trees be at the top. I flip the canvas. It could work. My paints came out. It's fun. It's the most fun I've had in a long time. The block has a hole in it and I can see light.

Trout Swimming Upstream

2009-11-19T14:06:00.000-08:00

"In the Current"

20" x 10" Acrylic on canvas with wrapped painted sides

$350

This was a really fun painting to do. It's pretty small. The goal—to keep it loose and let it be atmospheric...in a watery way. Detail on the fish is limited. I like the focal point fish being cut-off. Most of the color comes from the fins with the light shining through.

Rainbow Trout Art

2009-11-19T13:52:00.000-08:00

"Rainbow Magic"

Acrylic on canvas w/museum-wrapped painted 2.5" sides

60" x 27"

$2500

Well...it's taken a bit, life has been pretty crazy since my last post, but I think this painting is finished. I wanted it to be pretty loose and so am resisting the urge to keep adding detail. Once again, thanks to Tim Pask for his stunning photo from an Alaskan fishing trip to paint from.

Beginning Rainbow Trout Painting

2009-10-09T14:36:00.000-07:00

Finally started on a new, large underwater painting....this photo shows it about halfway done. I actually really like this stage—between the hurdle of getting starting and laying down a layer or two of paint and the point where everything goes downhill and I'm not sure I can pull it out.

This amazing trout in a crystal clear stream is from a photo Tim Pask took recently on a fishing trip in Alaska. I am very taken with the brilliant color of the fish, looking like molten gold and the deep turquoise, indigo of the water. Stay posted for the next progress report.

Deschutes River

2009-08-30T18:12:00.000-07:00

"The Shady Side"

48 x 30 acrylic on canvas with wrapped and painted 2.5" sides

$1800

I'd been looking at photos I took last Fall along the upper Deschutes River for months, trying to figure out how I wanted to paint the warm, colorful scene. Suddenly something clicked and a small portion of the upper left part of a photo came into focus. I decided to paint it big. I don't usually paint landscapes on large canvases, preferring to paint them in soft pastel, but when the mood strikes you have to go with it.

Hosmer Lake in the Cascades

2009-08-18T11:21:00.000-07:00

"Hosmer Magic"

26 x 16 image, Soft Pastel

Framed—36 x 26 $1250

Hosmer Lake, just past Elk Lake off the Cascade Lakes Hwy., must be experienced from the water. There is a small, round, deep lake right by the boat launch and then a long arm that twists through bullrushes and waterlillies. The sandy bottom gives the clear water a light seafoam green color. This scene, with leftovers from a forest fire, new growth pines, green water and a type of water plant that looks pink/orange in mass, is an example of natures color not being what goes with this years decor pallette. But, I had to paint it anyway. It was a real challenge. So much detail and color. I scraped off the pastel more than once, which I don't normally do.

Rapids on the River

2009-08-15T10:02:00.000-07:00

"River Rush"

26 x 16 image, Soft Pastel

Framed—34 x 24 $1350

The Deschutes River courses right through Bend, OR. This canyon scene is from a 3 mile loop trail that starts in River Bend Park near the Old Mill District. I started this painting as an example of a soft pastel landscape and demoed while being filmed for a segment on Oregon Art Beat (OPB) that will be aired later this year. Some of my best, loosest, paintings have been done while demoing. I attribute this to the fact that because I'm also talking to people my right brain is fully engaged and I'm painting instinctively...not over thinking.

Yellow Headed Blackbirds

2009-08-14T09:41:00.000-07:00

"Marsh Princes"

9 x 7 image, soft pastel

Framed 12 x 15, $275

I have a thing for blackbirds and have painted the red-winged blackbird lots of times. But on a trip to eastern Oregon I saw the yellow-headed blackbird for the first time. Even the female of this species gets a little color. Whenever you see them they're in charge of their habitat. What painter could pass up trying to capture that beautiful yellow?

Fly Fishing for Steelhead

2009-08-13T10:39:00.000-07:00

"Hooked"

36 x 36 Acrylic on Canvas w/ painted 2.5 wrapped sides

$1950

This is a steelhead, in all of it's glory, and some fly fisherperson's highlight of the day. One of the things that made me want to paint this scene is the incredible blue-green color of the water. Capturing the shimmer and motion of the fish and reflections above and below is exciting.

This painting was referenced from a photo by Tim Pask www.scanout.com

who generously allowed me to paint from it. I use many of my own photos to paint fish swimming in their natural habitat because I love the reflections of the water and the mystery of their moving forms under the surface. But I'm not set-up to take underwater photos. I always ask permission from photographers to paint from their photos if I see one that intrigues me. The painting is always different from the photo, as my work is impressionistic, but having a good photo is to work from is inspiring.

This painting was also in progress during the filming for Oregon Art Beat (OPB). I wanted to show both a pastel and an acrylic, a landscape and fish painting. Unfortunately at the stage it was in the fish looked suspiciously like a shark! I am depending on KC Cowan to show the final so I won't be embarrassed. Almost every painting has a point where it feels like I may not be able to make it work. Pushing through that defeating place is hard but can be rewarding.

Plein Air Painting at Sparks Lake

2009-08-12T17:04:00.000-07:00

Sparks Stillness—20 x 12, soft pastel

Framed—25 x 20, $750

Plein air of Penstemon & South Sister—9 x 7 image

Framed—12 x 15, $275

My friend and partner at Tumalo Art Co. in Bend, OR, Tracy Leagjeld tracyleagjeld.blogspot.com/ and I went up the Cascade Lake Hwy to paint recently. It's only 30 minutes away, but another world. Because I am still recovering from a broken leg we painted from the small parking lot right by the Sparks Lake marsh/meadow where Cascades Penstemon was blooming in profusion. South Sister was peeking up behind the trees and that's where we both painted a plein air piece. We photographed the meadow up the road a bit and there was one deer grazing in the meadow. This spot is one of our favorites to paint from. Both of the paintings are done in soft pastel.