Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Suzi Blu and The Paintings of Susan Seddon Boulet SHAMAN



Susan Seddon Boulet SHAMAN


"Fox Maiden" by Susan Seddon Boulet

Before Suzi Blu left to go back to New Jersey for Christmas, she left me her book The Paintings of Susan Seddon Boulet SHAMAN. She could see I was fascinated with the paintings. They had the same etherial quality that Sulamith Wulfing's Angel's had. There is such a surreal - not of this world - feel to both of theses painter's work.

I remembered my first painting teacher and dearest friend, Georgia, answer when I asked about 5 years ago, "what should I try to paint?" She told me to just find paintings I like and try to copy them. Then you don't have to think about composition or color and you can concentrate on just getting something down on paper. If you are in a hotel room, use those paintings on the walls of your room. I felt it took too much time to figure out what to draw or paint. I don't feel I have that part of the imagination thing down and going for me. I need inspiration! Enter Sulamith Wulfing and Susan Seddon Boulet! And for technique, Suzi Blu's online classes.


Sally's first attempt in Moleskine of "Fox Maiden"


My 2nd attempt at Fox Maiden
9x12 sketch book


I think my most favorite of all of Susan Seddon Boulet's paintings is Rites of Passage. I am amazed at how she imagined all three faces interacting with each other. It almost looks like a holy picture.

Susan Seddon Boulet
"Rites of Passage
"

My attempt of "Rites of Passage" in moleskine journal

Susan Seddon Boulet has an entire series of paintings with men with birds on their heads. Here are just two more. Aren't theses paintings captivating?


Susan Seddon Boulet
"Visioning"



Susan Seddon Boulet
"Young Men Shall Have Visions"


My moleskine version of "Birds of a feather flock together"


My 9x12 sketch I call "Hawk on Head"

The painting below looked so simple to me. I thought this would be one of the easier paintings to try to draw. . .

Susan Seddon Boulet "Tiger Lily"


My scary drawings. . .

Have you ever seen anything so scary. The drawing on the right was done first. I spent hours and hours on it. It just got more hideous as the night went on. Then I tried it on the left. Not too much better. The following night I went to the 9x12 sketch book. That one was a little better. This all makes me appreciate all the work in Susan's paintings. Speaking of paintings, I will want to try to paint theses afterwards. Wish me luck.



Last but not least is the first painting I tried to copy. I choose this one because I am in Suzi Blu's Online Angel class and this one had wings.

Susan Seddon Boulet
"Eagle Woman"

Since I don't know how to do side views, I used the idea of the wings and the body and created this sketch - my first of Susan's - in my Moleskine.

My first attempt at one of Susan Seddon Boulet's Paintings.

Once again, I hope by showing you my failures and my progress at sketching faces and taking Suzi's classes, that you will be encouraged by your failures and see your own progress. I hope you will let me know what you think.

Here is what I found regarding Shaman:

Shamanism comprises a range of traditional beliefs and practices concerned with communication with the spirit world. It is a prominent term in anthropological research.[2] A practitioner of shamanism is known as a shaman, pronounced /ˈʃɑːmən/, /ˈʃeɪmən/, (|ˈshämən; ˈshā-|) noun (pl. -man(s)).[3] There are many variations of shamanism throughout the world, but several common beliefs are shared by all forms of shamanism. Shamans are intermediaries between the human and spirit worlds. They can treat illness and are capable of entering supernatural realms to obtain answers to the problems of their community



8 comments:

Kathie said...

you have been a busy girl!!

jackieb said...

I applaud you for your bravery even attempting these drawings. They looked hard to me but then they wouldn't be "art" if someone hadn't slaved over them and if anyone could replicate them would they?
I can see that the "Wings" one is going to be great when finished because you are using the influence from the paintings but making it your own :}
Okay, I'll pick up my moleskin and TRY AGAIN. ha ha Thanks, jackie

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Deborah Truesdell said...

Sally,

I am very impressed with what you have been up to lately! I think you are definitely getting the essence down on paper, making it your own in the process. Keep working at it, I can see you are definitely conquering this new direction. Thanks for sharing your works in process with us! I have missed you and look forward to seeing you soon! Hugs to you, girlie!

Elena Lai Etcheverry said...

So amazing Sally. you are such the artista. I love that your post your "stages" now off to translate that comment for you!

Alexis Kelly said...

Wow just came across this post - I had forgotten how fantastic her work is! I have a book of postcards of her art, must get them out and take another look. I love the way you use her work to inspire your own.
ps Yay for Suzi

fizzycat said...

I like the different drawings, in particuilar your Tiger Lily.I too love her work.I wish you the best in your art work's development.

suzi blu said...

We need to start learning how to incorporate birds. I like how the birds are in part of her faces.