Susan Klabak

medium: painting

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Blynn Road Marsh 2006 Painting	Lake Michigan Shoreline 2007 Painting	Rainy Day 2007 Painting
River Reflections 2006 Painting	Autumn, Brigham Park 2006 Painting	Early Summer Cornfield 2007 Painting
Field of Mown Hay 2006 Painting	Quiet Evening 2007 Painting	Tranquil Stream 2005 Painting
Winter Lake 2006 Painting

Contact information
N4557 24th Avenue
Wild Rose, WI 54984
Email Address: sklabak@gmail.com
Web site: www.susanklabak.com

Artist statement
When I look at the beauty of the world around me, I am stirred deep within by a reverential awe for the Creator and our responsibility to care for this earth. The way the light plays on a particular scene attracts my attention to what might otherwise seem a most ordinary subject. I enjoy capturing the subdued light of early morning or late day. I am more interested in expressing the mood or emotion evoked by a scene than in creating a literal interpretation. I thoroughly enjoy the process of painting and it brings me even greater joy when I learn that my work has stirred an emotion or a memory in the viewer.

I use soft pastel because of the immediacy of the medium. I enjoy the process of selecting a color from the tray of pure, rich colors and applying it directly to the paper--no mixing and no waiting for paint to dry. Working quickly, I build multiple layers of pastel, usually covering the entire surface. I frequently paint en plein air, often finishing a piece in the studio, using reference photos I have taken or sketches.

It brings me great joy to place colorful marks on paper that represent a particular time and place. Painting is therapy for me. I am relaxed and at peace while I paint. I hope viewing my paintings does the same for others.

Biography
Susan Klabak lives in Wild Rose, Wis., and maintains a studio there. She is a member of the Great Lakes Pastel Society, the Madison Art Guild, Wisconsin Regional Artists Association, International Pastel Societies, Wisconsin Painters & Sculptors and the Madison Area Pastel Artists.

Klabak has participated in regional and national exhibitions, winning numerous awards for her artwork. She gives demonstrations/workshops in pastel technique.

Klabak is represented by the Jura Silverman Gallery/Wisconsin Artists Showcase in Spring Green, the Jack Richeson Gallery in Kimberly, Wis., and Brio Gallery, Galena, Ill. Her work can be seen at www.susanklabak.com.