<< view all artists

Brown Chair with Pink Poppies 40" x 32 ", acrylic

Wine Country 40" x 32 ", acrylic

Mallards 40" x 32", acrylic

SUSAN JENKINS

Born                   Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, February 16, 1970

Group Exhibitions

                            Outdoor Art Festival, London, Ontario, Canada, July 1999

                                  Waterloo Open Studios Tour, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada,

September 2000

                                    Christmas Open Studio, Fourth Street Studio, Berkeley, Ca, USA

                  December 13, 2003

                                    “Negative and Positive Space”, Gravity Feed Gallery, Berkeley, Ca, USA

                                    April 17th to May 17th, 2004

                                    Mill Valley Arts Festival, Laguna Park, San Raphael, Ca, USA

                                    June 19th and 20th, 2004

                                    “Color”, abstract painting exhibit, Fourth Street Studio, Berkeley, Ca, USA

                                    September 18th to October 11th, 2004

                                    “Abstract”, abstract painting exhibit, Fourth Street Studio, Berkeley, Ca, USA

                                    February 18th to March 4th, 2006

                                    “Abstraction of Medium”, Lesa Johnson Gallery, Lafayette, Ca, USA

 May 12 to June 12, 2006

Associated Galleries

                            Fourth Street Studios, Berkeley, Ca

                                    Gravity Feed Gallery, Berkeley, Ca

                                    ACCI Gallery, Berkeley, Ca

                                    Art Scape Gallery, Walnut Creek, Ca

                                    SF Moma Gallery Shop, San Francisco, Ca

                                    Lesa Johnson Gallery, Lafayette, Ca

                                    Valley Arts Center, Walnut Creek, Ca

Donations to Charitable Events

                            The Wheelchair Foundation Fundraiser, Silent Auction, October 2003

                                    The Wheelchair Foundation Fundraiser, Silent Auction, October 2004

                                    Lafayette Arts & Science Foundation Fundraiser, Silent Auction, October 2004 

Lafayette Elementary School PTA Fundraiser, Silent Auction, February 2005

Happy Valley Elementary PTA Fundraiser, Silent Auction, February 2005

Art for Heart Fundraiser, Silent Auction, March 2006

Bentley School Gala Fundraiser, Silent Auction, April 2006

The Wheelchair Foundation Fundraiser, Silent Auction, April 2006

Selected Publications

                            American Art Collector- Juried Competition of New Work

                                    Volume 2, Book 1- Western States

Education        Advertising, Fanshawe College, London, Ontario, Canada

                                    September 1993-May 1994

                                    BFAD, Ontario College of Art and Design

                                    September 1989- May 1992

                                    SACI, American University study program, Florence, Italy

 June 1991-September 1991

Affiliations        Lamorinda Arts Alliance, Lafayette, Ca

Accomplishments

                            Benjamina Designs, London, Ontario, Canada

Owner/designer of fabric screening company (fabrics and clothing sold to retailers)

September 1993-September 1994

Angi Venni, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Worked as manager and head window designer for high end women’s clothing shop

January 1995-June 1997

59George, Queen St, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Illustrated a line of 59 greeting card designs sold at retail level card shops, gift shops and nurseries

September 1997-October 2000

59George Inc.

Unique Floral and Event Design

Alamo, Ca, USA

September 2000-present

SUSAN JENKINS                                                                                                       statement

My paintings come from my need to create using the main principles of design, the artist’s backbone to most pieces of work. Line, shape, form, especially color and texture are the tools that make up each of my paintings. In using these tools I am able to create movement, depth and bold contrast keeping the viewer interested and looking for more. Having gone to art school, I was mostly taught to draw and paint from the model or subject in a very traditional manner. This put me in a space that didn’t give me the confidence to grow and to discover the abstract or non-objective side of the art world.  At that point, I knew I wanted to be creative, but decided to try another medium, floral design. In many ways, creating a floral arrangement is similar to painting a picture. There I realized that line shape, form, color and texture came into play once again. Feeling more free and confident, my arrangements became much more explorative and complex. I was excited about my designs but wanted to create on another level. I was always limited to what was available in the market so my color palate and textural choices were not always attainable. Coming to this realization allowed me to reevaluate my painting style. It enabled me to think differently about the need for realism verses abstraction. I not only wanted to develop paintings that inspired movement and energy but pieces that grabbed the viewer’s curiosity.

With many of my paintings now, the negative space is as important as the positive space. The colors I choose to work with are drawn from everyday subjects. I work from the abstract as well as the non-objective side. Titling the pieces gives the viewer an indication to explore the subtle nuances of the subject that make up the painting. I also do many complex color studies I work with different sized pieces of cardboard pulling the paint across the paper or canvas creating sometimes-translucent shapes of color; then with my palette knife, that adds texture, and finally using a brush creating line. In doing so I am able to develop depth from the layering of paint, allowing the opaque to play off the iridescent. The high contrasts of color I use throughout my work adds definition and creates a boldness that keeps the viewers eye actively involved in the piece.

I am now in a constant search for discoveries of colors and subjects that I can use to develop even more exciting works through the use of line, shape, form, color and texture. Even though I begin each piece using the main principles of design, by the end, my passion for color is most prominent. The thought of using simple subjects and developing them into beautiful explorations is both satisfying and fulfilling. I feel the never-ending exhilaration when stepping back from a finished piece and feeling how it almost painted itself.