Susan Duda Art Studio

Who's Got Your Back?

2011-04-24T11:13:00.006-04:00

I painted this Eagle as a demo at a local Gallery I exhibit at. The Eagle couple were near the ground perched on a fallen log. They were both intently watching something that was to their left, when a rustle in the bush from behind them made him turn to look over his back momentarily. She turned and squarely faced the impending danger. It seemed that he was assured she could handle what ever the rustle presented and after a few moments he once again continued watching the left as he knew that was where the real threat was .

White Bird of Paradise Palm

2010-10-30T22:39:00.006-04:00

Watercolor 15 1/2" x 22"

I loved my photo reference of this palm because of the abstract design of this composition. This painting is right out of the camera onto the paper. Sometimes perfection can not be improved apon. This is my new favorite masterpiece.

Enjoy.

Tre' Rose Hibiscus

2010-08-20T23:49:00.001-04:00

Five by Five

2010-08-20T23:39:00.002-04:00

Oil 12" x 12"

Frangipani

Gardenia in the Garden

2010-08-20T23:31:00.001-04:00

Oil 11" x 14"

Juicy

2010-08-20T23:13:00.004-04:00

JUICY

Watercolor 22" x 11"

" Dreams of a Soldier"

2009-09-18T00:55:00.002-04:00

18" x 24" Oil

This is a painting of my first husband and I and how I felt vulnerable and pensive and scared during the time he was in Viet Nam. (I felt like when your a little kid and they did the air-raid drills and you would get under the desk with your arms over your head to protect yourself) He would write me letters and I would read them over and over till the next one came. My only thought was him and would he come home. I felt like a ballerina turning piroettes round and round dizzy in a vortex of worry and fears clinging to these letters as our only communication during this year. When Johnny was in the most serious situation of his life, he constantly stratagizing .

Seaside Siren

2009-09-18T00:40:00.002-04:00

24" x 36" Oil Painting

Summer Rainier Cherries

2009-09-18T00:35:00.002-04:00

12" x 12" Oil Painting

Have a Bing Cherry , Go Ahead Try 'em

2009-09-18T00:23:00.004-04:00

From the Root Cellar

2009-07-25T12:54:00.001-04:00

"Crimson Beauty"

2009-07-02T22:44:00.003-04:00

Wednesday brought torrential rains and there was only one die hard student there for about the first hour so I painted on this beauty that was started as a demo over a year ago and never got finished. I only had started the bottom center petal of the largest bloom and of course all the yellow and green. I always start with yellow.

One hour into it two more students came into class and I had three more petals almost complete. Demonstrating to the three students that showed up. Today I finished it up after a few hours of work.

I'm pretty satisfied with it so I'm posting it. I may decide to put some loose golden background swoosh's because there are a few small blotches here and there if you look real closeyou can see them. I love it as a botanical but... out those d___ spots and their still there. Grrr!

"QT Pie"

2009-06-05T11:30:00.000-04:00

"Sweetie Pie"

2009-06-05T11:25:00.000-04:00

Me and My Hi-C

2009-02-16T18:01:00.005-05:00

In 1972 I lived and worked in Clearwater tere was this fabulous friut and vegatable market called "Little Big Market" on South Fort Harrison. I used to shop there often. One day in the late '70's I was shooting for my photography class
and got this shot of one of the street people that lived behind the market. I could hear him smack his lips and aaah at the refreshing flavor of his Orange drink that was given to him by the owner of the market. I won awards with the photograph and finally thirty some years later decide to paint it as its one of my favorite photos.

"Cold Shoulder"

2008-10-29T16:55:00.004-04:00

2008-10-10T22:52:00.002-04:00

I'm sorry I haven't been blogging lately. A Death in the family has stopped the flow... I'll be back soon as I can handle it.

"Neckline in Light"

2008-09-16T12:08:00.005-04:00

Now for some abstracts

" My Poor Little Match Girl"

2008-09-12T14:42:00.004-04:00

Chapter 10. Women Who Run
With the Wolves My response to the chapter Clear Water : Nourishing the Creative Life.

To paint in a style unlike our normal style. I usually paint large and realistic so I painted small,loose and stylized.
This woman appears to have everything necessary to have a good life, Beauty, intelligence, a good and loving heart, even wealth (notice the fur coat was real). But she was wasting away, starving herself from real warmth and nourishment in the pursuit of the "Other" world.
She is exhausted and selling herself short of her true worth.

"Candies"

2008-09-11T09:57:00.001-04:00

"Allie"

2008-09-10T11:24:00.002-04:00

"Shoreline"

2008-09-09T10:14:00.004-04:00

"Oriental Dish"

2008-09-08T18:29:00.003-04:00

"Lone Palm"

2008-09-07T15:30:00.003-04:00

"Lil Red Wagon"

2008-09-06T23:35:00.003-04:00

"Morning Kiss"

2008-09-05T12:42:00.004-04:00

This once again is my niece and grandnephew from a photgraph I took in my studio about 20 years ago. I just painted this while I watched the Republican convention. I was struck by the love of family while watching them, and feeling the loss of my Dad and came across the photograph and wanted to paint it.

"Italian Tonight"

2008-09-04T12:33:00.002-04:00

"Triple Play"

2008-09-03T00:53:00.003-04:00

Luscious Orchids fascinating Flowers. Prints of these make fabulous placemats.

"Pelican Fly By"

2008-09-02T13:33:00.004-04:00

This is a real stop action painting The Birds are awesome to watch here in Florida and I just love painting them too. He was circling around and diving and eating his prey always looking for the next victim.

"Washed-up"

2008-09-01T23:25:00.004-04:00

Sometimes after a storm Old beat-up shells find thier way to the shoreline this was one of those.

" Peace on the River"

2008-08-30T00:00:00.006-04:00

This is the view from a condo that My ex husband and I owned in North Ft. Meyers

"Under the Kaypock Tree"

2008-08-29T11:53:00.009-04:00

The Kapock Tree was the name of a famous Clearwater restaurant in Clearwater, known mostly for the beautiful gardend that surrounded the dining halls. there are many beautiful statues among the flowers and this is one of them.

"Captain's Riverboat House"

2008-08-28T12:57:00.003-04:00

This house is in Brooksville and the story is that a riverboat captain built it to resemble his riverboat so he would be at home when he wasn't on the riverboat. Men... They'd always rather be fishing.

"Madona of the Kiss"

2008-08-27T23:29:00.004-04:00

Sold

This is actually a black and white photo of my neice and grand nephew that I posed them for back in the 80's he now is 20 years old.

I used this painting for a Christmas card one year I got so many complements on it and people framed the card.

"Bahama Mama"

2008-08-26T10:16:00.004-04:00

This was a photo with flora and fauna but no human or bird so I put a bird in for interest

"The Eyes Have It "

2008-08-25T11:36:00.002-04:00

This beautiful cat was a gallery cat he didnt get along with his housemates so the gallery owner moved him to the gallery. there he was the King of his castle.

Sold

"Enchanting"

2008-08-22T09:56:00.005-04:00

This swan was so fabulous and the sparkle on the water was really flotsum and jetsom of a dirty pond but I turned it into sparkles of glistening water, which so much rather suits the majesty of the swan.

"Sunflower" Handpainted Ceramic Tile

2008-08-21T14:22:00.007-04:00

Sunflowers make me happy

"At Rest"

2008-08-20T12:31:00.001-04:00

Sold

"Kingfisher"

2008-08-19T11:33:00.002-04:00

"Prima Balla-Fushia"

2008-08-18T10:05:00.003-04:00

"Blonde and Beautiful"

2008-08-17T16:29:00.003-04:00

"Blue Heron on Rooftop"

2008-08-15T14:24:00.002-04:00

Sold

This heron was on a rooftop next door my house was elevated so he was right off my lanai.

"Red Dance"

2008-08-14T12:01:00.006-04:00

"Calla's"

2008-08-13T22:59:00.004-04:00

These calla lillies were so well arranged I just had to capture them. I know I know "So Okeef"

"BB's Babtism"

2008-08-12T09:25:00.003-04:00

"Nesting"

2008-08-09T18:29:00.002-04:00

Sold

" A Lovely Bunch of Violets

2008-08-08T23:55:00.003-04:00

"Johnny Jump-ups"

2008-08-07T15:29:00.002-04:00

"Rogers Palm"

2008-08-06T21:10:00.002-04:00

"Indigo Rest Stop"

2008-08-04T10:26:00.003-04:00

"Sunlit Iris"

2008-08-03T00:43:00.002-04:00

"Rainbow Salute"

2008-08-01T00:05:00.003-04:00

"Country Farm Chair"

2008-07-30T10:59:00.006-04:00

This chair, the painting of farm boy, copper pot and wall attached to the house were my parents belongings now they are both gone and their things remain along with memories of Mom and Dad. The cat belongs to one of my students.

"Fresh Veggies"

2008-07-28T22:04:00.007-04:00

" Boot Ranch Beauty"

2008-07-27T11:25:00.006-04:00

"Dragons and Blooms"

2008-07-26T17:27:00.006-04:00

Watercolor, Alcohol, salt (Margeritas anyone) and a credit card is all it takes sometimes. The only thing was I got a little precious on the dragonfly.

"Along the Pathway"

2008-07-25T09:49:00.004-04:00

"Serenity"

2008-07-24T13:15:00.005-04:00

These swans were floating on the river in Homasassa. There was such a serenity watching them floating along. doing what swans do. These swans were actually black swans but I had read somewhere that black swans are considered bad luck, I didn't want to send bad luck to someone so I painted them as white swans. If black swans are bad luck, white swans must be Good Luck right. How's your luck?

"Carbohydrate Conundrum"

2008-07-22T13:38:00.005-04:00

A chapter in the Women who Run With the Wolves Book deals with "Identifying Leg Traps, Cages and Poisoned Bait". The chapter helped me to Look at some things in my life. The question asked is What do your Red Shoes look like?
Having a slight shoe fetish at the time (75 pairs) I thought about being literal about what do my red shoes look like? But in delving deeper I saw the deeper meaning of the addictive nature of the Red Shoes. After all 75 shoes is a mild addiction next to some people I've heard of. (O.K. maybe I'm in denial... but they won't kill you although sometimes you feel like the pain will kill you.)
My red shoes are: eating things that are not good for me. Carbohydrates are my poisoned bait. I love them, I crave them. And yet they are hurting my body (I'm breaking out in fat all over) it's always my first choice and my choices are taking my body down the drain I am being sucked into the vortex of the carbohydrate conundrum.

"Bird of Paradise"

2008-07-21T11:06:00.005-04:00

"Strolling Green Key"

2008-07-18T22:11:00.004-04:00

"Coconut Rest Stop"

2008-07-17T08:57:00.003-04:00

Sold

"Rainbows are Promises"

2008-07-16T10:35:00.004-04:00

Chapter 9 in the book "Women Who Run With the Wolves" is titled Homing: Returning to Oneself

My response to that chapter was:

When I was young and beautiful I shed my clothes and posed nude. I took pictures of myself when I was a photography student (cheap model). I had this shot and it reminded me of Botticelli's "birth of Venus" pose. I've wanted to paint it for 20 some years but I could'nt until this book. I was afraid of what everyone would think so I hid the pictures. Now I see that they are just form, beautiful form and I want to share it. I am one with the universal light and all the colors of the rainbow fill my form and my skin to let you see the form not the parts of it.

"Espirito Santo Bay"

2008-07-15T12:16:00.003-04:00

Sold

"Tall Drink of Water"

2008-07-14T18:56:00.003-04:00

"Red Hot"

2008-07-11T10:46:00.005-04:00

"Solitary Swan"

2008-07-09T18:13:00.004-04:00

"Gram's Pansy"

2008-07-07T14:07:00.004-04:00

"Heart of Hydranga"

2008-07-06T20:40:00.005-04:00

Sold

The Lacey Cap Hydrangea is a very beautiful Specimen of the Hydrangea flower.

It resembles the head of a woman crowned with a floral wreath and reminds me of May Day ceremonies in the spring as a child with wreaths of flowers and flowing ribbons and smiles and laughter weaving the ribbons around the pole.

When I was observing the plant and deciding my painting concept of the flowers I noticed that each petal of the flower looks like a heart and even the leaves look like huge green hearts and that was my inspiration for the heartfelt painting and the heart shaped vignette.

This is my Valentine in Blue.

Prints available.

"Fruits of Our Labor"

2008-07-04T21:12:00.002-04:00

"Momentary Distraction"

2008-07-03T09:53:00.002-04:00

"Little Bluebird"

2008-07-02T09:16:00.003-04:00

Sold

"Ancient Mariner"

2008-07-01T15:17:00.003-04:00

"White Knight"

2008-06-29T23:45:00.004-04:00

"Morning Light"

2008-06-28T19:12:00.001-04:00

"Persuading Persephone"

2008-06-27T10:18:00.007-04:00

The 11Th Chapter in Clarissa Pinkola Estes book is titled Heat: Retrieving a Sacred Sexuality. This chapter is about Persephone and how in her innocence she plays in a meadow along the shore of a clear lake between the worlds. Hades catches sight of her and must possess her. So he deceives her and tries to overpower her forcing his way of life on her by squeezing the pomegranate seeds into her mouth forcing her to remain in the underworld six months out of the year... ergo fall and winter.
In my painting the purple on her face is his shadow blocking the light and the bruise he does inflict on her young psyche.

"Common Hearts Golden Threads"

2008-06-26T10:46:00.004-04:00

This painting was inspired by another chapter in the book "Women Who Run With the Wolves, by Clarissa Pinkola Estes. Chapter 4 is "The Dual Nature of Women"
We must learn balance in order to thrive.
The things in my life appear to to pretty balanced. The bow on the violin forms an intersection(cross) with the violin. The music of my life touches all aspects and is a centering force in my life. I chose the violin because of it's beauty and resemblance to the female form. Violins always make me cry and touch my soul.
The sleeping self represents personal time and are shades of violet which denote ethereal and magical things in my life.
The woman that is painting is my creative life. The easel is pointing to the center of the composition. The palette has only the three primary colors (plus white) essential to make any other color. Food and drink are in the basket at my feet to sustain me.
The mother and child are my relatives and are represent my family, they posed for me as Madonna and child for a painting and have been a driving force in my life. They also cause pain and so they appear lost and found in the composition.

"La Luna Papillion"

2008-06-25T22:17:00.007-04:00

Another chapter in the book "Women who Run With the Wolves, inspired this painting. The Butterfly Woman, Joyous Body: The Wild Flesh

The butterfly is a very delicate creature, it will turn to dust if you hold it too tight. But if the butterfly doesn't stay in the cocoon long enough it won't develop its wings and wont ever be able to fly therefore it will be vulnerable to its enemy's.

My Butterfly Woman is so joyful and light that she dances among the stars, the heat from her joy filled heart emanates from within. The vibration of her wings travel on throughout the universe.

Her antennae are extended and have pom poms that dance to the music on their own.

"Great White Heron Sanctuary"

2008-06-24T11:51:00.001-04:00

Sold

"Indian Summer Gateway"

2008-06-23T12:25:00.005-04:00

Sold

I painted this painting for a woman that said she had an orange sofa and couldn't find an orange painting for over the sofa. I tried to educate her to get her off of the "doesn't match the couch syndrome" but she wouldn't budge. So I went home and painted an orange painting , but I never did see her again to show it to her. I did however put it in some outdoor shows raising the price after each show as I do because obviously it must be too cheap and people must be thinking something is wrong with it...and thats why it hasn't been bought yet. Anyway I put it on an easel in my studio and one evening as I was leaving the studio to go home I was at the door and turned back to check the room to see if I had turned everything off. I had left the Ott light on over this painting and it was glowing as if it was the day I was compelled to take the photograph of the beautiful scene. I was absolutely awestruck by the painting and decided right then nobody could pay me enough to buy this painting. So I bought the original from myself and I got a gicl'ee' made to sell. The original now hangs prominently over my fireplace where it has since that night. I so enjoy the painting and so does everyone that comes to visit. Everyone wants to buy it now

"White Birds"

2008-06-22T18:17:00.003-04:00

"She Sells Seashells"

2008-06-20T12:08:00.001-04:00

Sold

"Chinese Lanterns Form my Heart"

2008-06-19T13:38:00.006-04:00

Sold

Jade and Pomagranite

2008-06-18T09:31:00.005-04:00

"All Aboard the Orange Blossom Special"

2008-06-17T12:31:00.004-04:00

Sold

"Shaherazade"

2008-06-16T12:57:00.005-04:00

"Carins Tulips"

2008-06-15T23:33:00.002-04:00

"Gifts of the Sun"

2008-06-14T20:49:00.005-04:00

"Gardenia Passion"

2008-06-13T13:05:00.006-04:00

Original Sold (Prints Available)

"Three in a Boat"

2008-06-12T14:26:00.004-04:00

Tickle Me Purple

2008-06-11T17:34:00.009-04:00

"When Johnny Comes Marching Home"

2008-06-10T16:22:00.005-04:00

This is a painting of my first husband in Vietnam in 1969. He sent me the photo while he was there I cherish it because it has his wedding band in it, he lost his ring in Vietnam along with his ring finger and both of his legs because he stepped on a landmine during his tour of duty. He landed in Vietnam July 21 when Man landed on the Moon and the saying that rang around the world that year was "One small step for man... one giant leap for mankind". That saying has always had special meaning for me because he was landing on a type of moon that same day.
I painted this while reading a book called "Women who run with the wolves". In chapter 12 called, Marking Territory: The Boundaries of Rage and Forgiveness.

My response to this chapter was ..." I had a pretty happy childhood. Lots of love and fun and friends.
I married young and had lots of dreams. Then one morning I was woke up by my parents carrying a telegram down the hallway to me as I lay in a feigned sleep state because I overheard thier suppressed whispers as to what the telegram meant and I did not want the reality of it interrupting my life .
This was the beginning of rage for me. The painting is of my first husband while he was stationed in Vietnam. He stepped on the land mine in Vietnam and what happened to us as a result of it was the beginning of a most terrible rage that wanders on even today.
I couldn't talk about what happened for a long time because the rage and pain were so intertwined in this event.
After the September 11attacks it was as though I was right back there in that time of Vietnam once again. But with therapy and love I have come to forgive."

Dessert divided by 3

2008-06-10T00:32:00.004-04:00

"Looking for Lunch"

2008-06-08T17:35:00.007-04:00

Lake Tahoe View

2008-06-07T19:02:00.005-04:00

On a trip to Vegas I visited Lake Tahoe and captured this Vista.

"Luscious Fruit Compote"

2008-06-06T10:24:00.007-04:00

I painted a series of paintings that I call "Full Chroma" that is no greys only out of the tube color. They are very vibrant and a little looser than my typical style. (I take my glasses off.)

"Stolen Hibiscus"

2008-06-05T11:21:00.004-04:00

Saftey Harbor View

2008-06-04T17:29:00.004-04:00

Grace Defined

2008-06-04T00:44:00.004-04:00

I met this model at an art show and asked her to pose for our portrait group. She posed for us many times over the next few years. She is a professional skater so we had her pose in her costume. She was a graceful and beautiful young woman and a joy to paint. I was told by many fellow artists that this portrait was the best likeness ever of this model. I am concidering darkening the background... what do you think?