Susan Easton Burns paints living things as a way of finding balance on this big blue marble of a world—intuitively, spontaneously, and naturally.
“I choose to paint nature because I am a part of nature,” Susan explains. “We humans are much like animals. The main difference is animals have no fear of the future. They live their lives with great awareness and intuition.”
As a result, her painted subjects, from the smallest farm bird to the most splendid human form, seem to display a profound awareness of themselves in the grand scheme of life.
Take Little Nude, for instance. Arms wide, chin up and chest out, this figure emblazoned in fiery reds and oranges is the essence of the human spirit—determined and strong.
Many other nude portraits that I’ve seen seem to demonstrate the vulnerable and fragile nature of humanity. This painting, however, signifies just the opposite. It is a sign of our triumphs, how far we have come, and the red hot passion we all possess for life.
The persona in this painting is one we can identify with. It shatters misconceptions about our mortality and stands true and tall, a symbol of our inner strength.
In this next painting, entitled Path, this chicken knows what he’s after—most likely dinner! I love everything about this simple painting, from the unpredictable nature of the chicken, displayed through a composition that does not allow us to see where his feet will take him next, to the scribbles of matted, dirty feathers.
In fact, this was the first of Susan’s work that caught my eye right off the bat. There’s a sense of instinctiveness here that I think we associate with all animals in search for food, shelter or safety. It’s a do-or-die nature, and even though this is just a farm animal, his spirit and grit is so apparent and equally appealing that I know I wouldn’t dare stand in his way!
Lastly, in Teacher 2, a thick plait of jet black hair highlighted by orange and yellow hues curves stiffly around the resilient, dignified face of this Native American.
Standing tall with chin held high, one can immediately tell that this is a well-respected man—a man of stature. His side profile is a sight to behold, from his sun-drenched forehead marred with crinkles indicating age (and wisdom) to his perfectly straight nose and contemplative lips.
This painting is a marriage of his will and character. It is a celebration of tradition and culture that its earthen colors only showcase more clearly.
These three paintings are just a small portion of the artwork found at Susan’s website, so if you enjoyed the ones above, by all means, head over to her website now!
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