Unbridled Nature
Cockburn was the Third Prize winner of International Artist magazine’s Challenge No. 111, Seascapes, Rivers & Lakes.
In 2018, Susan Cockburn relocated to Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, to fulfill her 20-year goal of living immersed in the natural world that inspires her paintings. She says, “My work is inspired by direct experiences in nature, discovering images that compel me to present a unique perspective; vivid contrast; energetic motion; a moment’s stillness.”
Cockburn began drawing and painting at a young age, with her early work focusing on detailed realism. The artist, who has had a career as a graphic designer, more recently has concentrated on stronger use of color, experimenting with mediums and using techniques that enhance the surface texture of her work. These new elements, she explains, have “developed into more impressive results.” Cockburn adds, “Value conveys the light that inspires the image; texture is used to enhance two-dimensional surfaces that represent our three-dimensional world; and strong color—
often a complete palette shift from the original scene or object—brings the work to life.”
While on location, Cockburn takes photos and does concept sketches. Back in the studio, she translates those into digital sketches that combine the photos and explore the aspect ratio for the painting. Her worlds of graphic design and fine art converge in the process as she examines the imagery to place focal points and choose the best color palette.
For instance, her painting Low Tide, Toney River, was inspired by her observations of the late afternoon sunlight on the low tide pools, with a heron she noticed in the distance adding to the composition. “The underpainting was created with tinted modeling paste to portray the rock texture, glazed with matte paint,” she says. “Glazes including layers of metallic copper and iridescent medium help capture the quality of light refractions on the pools of water.”