Susan Grant Watercolors
Susan Grant, Watercolor Artist
Artist Statement:
Even with my logical, mathematical nature that led to an engineering degree, I have loved art for
as long as I can remember. I fell in love with watercolor painting over 20 years ago. My
engineering background naturally leads into my realistic style of painting; I particularly enjoy
painting animals, especially capturing the personality of a pet, a loved member of the family.
When participating in plein air events, I am drawn toward architectural subjects, again a nod to
my engineering background. My medium of choice is transparent watercolor for the fresh, clean
colors that result from building layers of “washes” onto the paper. However, I have also
discovered that gouache (opaque watercolor) with its rich, saturated color, can also result in
striking pieces.
Art Education:
2013: “A Non-Traditional Approach to Watercolor”, 2 day workshop with Kate Worm
2006 & 2007: “Painting the Tuscan Landscape”, 7-day plein-air workshops with Jean Cauthen
in Italy
2004: “Painting the Cityscape” plein-air workshop with Kate Worm
2002: 5 day workshop with nationally recognized watercolorist Marilyn Hughey Phillis
2001: “Find Your Direction“, 5 day workshop with nationally recognized watercolorist Skip
Lawrence
2000: “Traditional Watercolor”, 3 day workshop with nationally recognized watercolorist Joe
Miller
1989-present: Multiple instructors in western NC, mainly through Catawba Valley Community
College
Affiliations:
Signature member of the Watercolor Society of North Carolina
Associate member of the National Watercolor Society
Board Member of Uni4 Artists Association
Member of Foothills Painters
Awards:
2013: Third Place in the annual Rock School Open Show with “Traffic Jam”
2011: Achieved Signature Member status with the Watercolor Society of North Carolina
2005 First Place in the Annual Mooresville Art Guild Spring Competition with “Oak Leaves”
and Second Place with “Norwood House, Hart Square”
Selected Exhibitions:
2015: "Animal Planet", juried show at Ciel Gallery, Charlotte, NC
2014: “Mixing Oil & Water”, Art in the Hall, Morganton, NC with oil painter, Eugenie Fein
Foothills Painters group exhibition, McDowell Arts Council, Marion, NC
“Canvas & Corks”, Foothills Painters group exhibition, Abernethy Laurels, Newton, NC
Rock School Arts with Ellen Schwartzbek and Kim Ollis, Valdese, NC
2013: Foothills Painters group exhibition, Caldwell Arts Council, Lenoir, NC
“Tiny Art Show”, Full Circle Arts, Hickory, NC
“Canvas & Corks”, Foothills Painters group exhibition, Abernethy Laurels, Newton, NC
“Art Crawl”, Burke Arts Council, Morganton, NC
Watercolor Society NC Western Region, group show, Couick Gallery, Charlotte, NC
Watercolor Society NC Signature Member Show, Hickory Museum of Art, Hickory, NC
2012: Foothills Painters group exhibition, Hiddenite Center, Hiddenite, NC
2011: Watercolor Society of NC, Annual Juried Competition for Members, Cary, NC
2010: Watercolor Society of NC, Annual Juried Competition for Members, Hickory, NC
“Three Visions in Realism”, with watercolorist Martha Mauney and oil painter Eugenie Fein,
Burke Arts Council, Morganton, NC
2007: “Artists Unleashed” with collage artist Vae Hamilton and oil painter Dominick D’Ostilo,
Newton-Conover Civic & Performance Place, Newton, NC
2005: Watercolor Society of NC, Annual Juried Competition for Members, Winston-Salem, NC
Selected Events:
2015: "Animal Planet", Ciel Gallery, Charlotte NC, demonstrated opaque watercolor technique
at the opening reception.
2014: “Art in the Garden”, Juried Plein Air event in conjunction with the Charlotte Garden Club
and Mint Museum, Charlotte, NC
2013: “Paint the Town”, Plein Air event in Southport, NC
“Oil Painters of America Paintout”, Plein air event in Salisbury, NC
Watercolor Society of NC Western Region Paintout, Carl Sandburg Home, Flat Rock, NC
Other:
BS Electrical Engineering, Virginia Tech, 1984
Worked in the Fiber Optics industry in various engineering and technical roles from 1985-2012
Artist Statement:
Even with my logical, mathematical nature that led to an engineering degree, I have loved art for
as long as I can remember. I fell in love with watercolor painting over 20 years ago. My
engineering background naturally leads into my realistic style of painting; I particularly enjoy
painting animals, especially capturing the personality of a pet, a loved member of the family.
When participating in plein air events, I am drawn toward architectural subjects, again a nod to
my engineering background. My medium of choice is transparent watercolor for the fresh, clean
colors that result from building layers of “washes” onto the paper. However, I have also
discovered that gouache (opaque watercolor) with its rich, saturated color, can also result in
striking pieces.
Art Education:
2013: “A Non-Traditional Approach to Watercolor”, 2 day workshop with Kate Worm
2006 & 2007: “Painting the Tuscan Landscape”, 7-day plein-air workshops with Jean Cauthen
in Italy
2004: “Painting the Cityscape” plein-air workshop with Kate Worm
2002: 5 day workshop with nationally recognized watercolorist Marilyn Hughey Phillis
2001: “Find Your Direction“, 5 day workshop with nationally recognized watercolorist Skip
Lawrence
2000: “Traditional Watercolor”, 3 day workshop with nationally recognized watercolorist Joe
Miller
1989-present: Multiple instructors in western NC, mainly through Catawba Valley Community
College
Affiliations:
Signature member of the Watercolor Society of North Carolina
Associate member of the National Watercolor Society
Board Member of Uni4 Artists Association
Member of Foothills Painters
Awards:
2013: Third Place in the annual Rock School Open Show with “Traffic Jam”
2011: Achieved Signature Member status with the Watercolor Society of North Carolina
2005 First Place in the Annual Mooresville Art Guild Spring Competition with “Oak Leaves”
and Second Place with “Norwood House, Hart Square”
Selected Exhibitions:
2015: "Animal Planet", juried show at Ciel Gallery, Charlotte, NC
2014: “Mixing Oil & Water”, Art in the Hall, Morganton, NC with oil painter, Eugenie Fein
Foothills Painters group exhibition, McDowell Arts Council, Marion, NC
“Canvas & Corks”, Foothills Painters group exhibition, Abernethy Laurels, Newton, NC
Rock School Arts with Ellen Schwartzbek and Kim Ollis, Valdese, NC
2013: Foothills Painters group exhibition, Caldwell Arts Council, Lenoir, NC
“Tiny Art Show”, Full Circle Arts, Hickory, NC
“Canvas & Corks”, Foothills Painters group exhibition, Abernethy Laurels, Newton, NC
“Art Crawl”, Burke Arts Council, Morganton, NC
Watercolor Society NC Western Region, group show, Couick Gallery, Charlotte, NC
Watercolor Society NC Signature Member Show, Hickory Museum of Art, Hickory, NC
2012: Foothills Painters group exhibition, Hiddenite Center, Hiddenite, NC
2011: Watercolor Society of NC, Annual Juried Competition for Members, Cary, NC
2010: Watercolor Society of NC, Annual Juried Competition for Members, Hickory, NC
“Three Visions in Realism”, with watercolorist Martha Mauney and oil painter Eugenie Fein,
Burke Arts Council, Morganton, NC
2007: “Artists Unleashed” with collage artist Vae Hamilton and oil painter Dominick D’Ostilo,
Newton-Conover Civic & Performance Place, Newton, NC
2005: Watercolor Society of NC, Annual Juried Competition for Members, Winston-Salem, NC
Selected Events:
2015: "Animal Planet", Ciel Gallery, Charlotte NC, demonstrated opaque watercolor technique
at the opening reception.
2014: “Art in the Garden”, Juried Plein Air event in conjunction with the Charlotte Garden Club
and Mint Museum, Charlotte, NC
2013: “Paint the Town”, Plein Air event in Southport, NC
“Oil Painters of America Paintout”, Plein air event in Salisbury, NC
Watercolor Society of NC Western Region Paintout, Carl Sandburg Home, Flat Rock, NC
Other:
BS Electrical Engineering, Virginia Tech, 1984
Worked in the Fiber Optics industry in various engineering and technical roles from 1985-2012
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Email Susan
sgwatercolors@gmail.com
sgwatercolors@gmail.com
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