Susan Falk

Autumn painting

admin — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 20:20:51 +0000

Great November day for plein air painting. My farm in South Langley has a few ponds on the property that always challenge me. After teaching so much these past few weeks indoors it is always a wonderful break to get outdoors and stretch the mind. I enjoy doing quick studies and have no choice but to move quite quickly because of the changes in light. Usually I give myself about 20 to 30 minutes and then start another one if the weather holds.

new Van Gogh biography

admin — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 18:00:38 +0000

His paintings are among the most adored in the world, and the story of his life and death is legendary: Vincent van Gogh was a troubled genius who killed himself. But while van Gogh was no doubt plagued by physical and mental illness, the authors of a new biography say their exhaustive forensic investigation suggests he may not have taken his own life. In fact, they claim he was accidentally shot by two teenage boys who were playing with a gun from the hotel owner.

For ten years, Steve Naifeh and his partner Greg Smith – who’s recovering from cancer surgery – peered into every dark corner of Vincent van Gogh’s life. Van Gogh was laughed out of art school. Couldn’t hold a job. And even tried being a minister, like his father, with disastrous results. Just goes to show how determination, perseverance and hard work can overcome.

Fort Langley Art Show

admin — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 01:35:56 +0000

The horses come galloping towards you, in full movement, or so it seems to me, this novice in the world of horses and dressage. Dorothy is with me as we inspect this daunting painting. One cannot take it all in, in one glance.

I had missed the point, but my friend has had experience with horses. She educates me on the esoteric symbols – the letters that refer to various positions in the arena, the written words that are instructions that the judges call out and the various tests of a horse’s ability to go through the paces of Test 2. The judges box is off to the far left hand side.

All these things enhance my enjoyment of this large work of art; but without this knowledge, I would still have found this an amazing work first off, because Susan Falk manages to draw the horses in paint with such energy and motion as if she had been able to paint it in sweeping movements; and then because the images are so big that it is a tough task to keep the animals in proportion and anatomically believable; and lastly because the concept of a large figurative work like this must be planned and ordered in advance to produce a piece with workable composition and meaning.

I was tempted by the post card invitation to see this show, but I was not ready for the impact of this particular work. There is no comparison between photographic reproductions and the real thing!

There is a series of smaller mixed media drawings 8 x 10 inches and 11 x 13 inches, more attuned with Falk’s usual style. These, too, are lively and dynamic.

Susan Falk has been training with her horse at Rosewyn Stables in Langley with coach Monique Fraser. She takes the opportunity to photograph and draw many of the horses and riders while she is there.

In part, this exhibition is a fund raise to support the Valley Therapeutic Equestrian Association. Posters of Falk’s work are available for $20.00 and all the proceeds from these posters will go the VTEA!

The show is on until April 25, 2011.

The Fort Gallery is at 9048 Glover Road, Fort Langley, B.C.. open Tuesdays to Sunday from 10 to 5 p.m.