I’m an artist living in Chester County, Pennsylvania, and am excited to return to plein air painting, since my years living and painting in the San Francisco Bay Area. I welcome the striking differences of the terrain here on the East “Coast'“—rolling hills of southeastern PA—to the golden hills of Northern and Coastal CA.

Painting and drawing on location and being immersed in the color, light, and flavors of the surrounding landscape, deepens connections to these treasured places, as well as fellow painters. Recently, I’m working in watercolor, and split my time working outdoors and in studio.

I have the good fortune to join other painters led by Karl J. Kuerner at the historic Kuerner Farm in Chadds Ford, PA. Throughout the changing seasons and light of day, the farm has been both inspiring and challenging in its subject matter, and seeing others’ interpretation of the landscape and structures never ceases to amaze me. Karl has created a special comradery among the artists with his talent, energy, and wit.

Having worked in printmaking and watercolors in the late 1980s and early 90s, in 1997 I first studied plein air (open air) painting with Carolyn Meyers, in Marin County, CA. In 2001, I began painting with a group of artists, Open Space Odyssey 2001 : Susan Schneider, Robert Chapla, Gary Brogan and myself. We often secured access to at-risk agricultural or open spaces and painted on location. We exhibited our works in galleries in the North SF Bay region of California, expanding public awareness of these lands. I also had the pleasure of studying plein air under Nikki Basch-Davis, of the original The Outsiders Group of Seven plein air painters. My work has been shown in San Francisco, Berkeley, Mendocino, North SF Bay Communities, and Eastern Washington State.

Awards:

• American Canyon Arts Foundation 11th Annual Arts Extravaganza 2002 Invitational, First place prizes in professional oils and plein air.

• American Canyon Arts Foundation 10th Annual Arts Extravaganza 2001 Invitational, First place prizes in professional oils and miniatures.

• American Canyon Arts Foundation 9th Annual Arts Extravaganza 2000 Invitational, Award - Best of Show, and First place prizes in professional oils and miniatures.

I hold a B.S. in Art Education from Indiana University of PA, taught middle school art in Berkeley, CA, and further studied printmaking and graphic arts at San Francisco State University.

Playing outside, exploring, spending free time with my family, friends, and our two very enthusiastic dogs are some of my favorite things.

—Susan Malikowski