Illuminating Wonder - Watercolors by Susan Bull Riley

Illuminating Wonder - Watercolors by Susan Bull Riley

Illuminating Wonder

Watercolors by Susan Bull Riley

at THE GALLERY at Central Vermont Medical Center
through April 26, 2019

**** MEET THE ARTIST ON THURSDAY, APRIL 11, 4:00-6:00PM ****

ABOUT THE ARTIST

“I have painted with watercolor since childhood but four years ago I embarked on a self-imposed watercolor challenge. I decided to push past the watercolor’s traditional boundaries of pure transparency, and my background in botanical watercolors, to create large landscapes with heightened surface complexity more typical of oil painting.

Illuminating Wonder is the result of that challenge. In this body of work I layer watercolor and rework the delicate painted surfaces to achieve my best impression of light and depth. The process requires experimentation because of watercolor’s inherent immediacy – it dries quickly and does not easily invite reworking.

My surroundings, and careful observation of the natural world, are my constant inspirations. Indeed, there is enough beauty around my East Montpelier home to fuel lifetimes of painting. I am also inspired by the wondrous play of light upon everything I see. I strive to capture that light and to play with broad sweeps of color – with watercolor.

My academic training is entirely in music performance rather than visual art. I received my undergraduate degree from Dartmouth and my graduate degree from the New England Conservatory of Music. Painting has always been a private and deeply personal part of my life, but for 22 years has been the sole focus of my professional energy.

I live and work in a renovated schoolhouse with my husband, the musician Richard Riley. Our daughters are grown. Life is further celebrated with the presence of two grandchildren.”

Susan Bull Riley is a member of the New England Society of Botanical Artists and a signature member of the Vermont Watercolor Society. Her paintings have received honors in regional, national and international galleries and institutions and have been sought by The New York State Museum, The National Science Foundation, the Vermont Community Foundation, the American Chestnut Foundation, the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology and from many local land trusts. Over the years Susan has won numerous awards from the Vermont Watercolor Society as well as First Place in the 2018 Northern Vermont Art Association exhibition and, in 2016, First Place in the Westmore Association En Plein Air Paint-out and the People’s Choice Award in the Northern Vermont Art Association’s summer exhibition. Susan is part of the Legacy Collection of the Bryan Gallery in Jeffersonville and exhibits regularly with Festival Arts Gallery in Waitsfield and Emile A. Gallery in Jericho. Susan’s website has more information.

www.susanbullriley.com

THE GALLERY at Central Vermont Medical Center is located in the lobby of the hospital and is open every day. For more information about THE GALLERY at CVMC please email Maureen O’Connor Burgess, Curator, at  moetown52@comcast.net.