Spring Art Tour: Susan Klabak

Susan Klabak | pastel

Susan Klabak lives in Mazomanie, Wisconsin and maintains a studio there. She is a member of the Great Lakes Pastel Society, the Madison Art Guild, Wisconsin Regional Artist Association, International Association of Pastel Societies, and the founding President of the Madison Area Pastel Artists. Working almost exclusively in soft pastels, the subjects of her landscape paintings are usually found within a 25 mile radius of her home. Susan's work can be seen at her web site: www.SusanKlabak.com.

"The way the light plays on a particular scene attracts my attention to what might otherwise seem a most ordinary subject. When I look at the beauty of the world around me I am stirred deep within by a reverential awe for the Creator. It brings me great joy to place colorful marks on paper that represent a particular time and place. I am more interested in expressing the mood or emotion evoked by a scene than in creating a literal interpretation. I use soft pastel because of the immediacy of the medium. I enjoy the process of selecting a color from the tray of pastels and applying it directly to the paper; no mixing and no waiting for paint to dry. Working quickly I build multiple layers of pastels, usually covering the entire surface. I thoroughly enjoy the process of painting and it brings me even greater joy when I learn that my work has stirred an emotion or memory in the viewer."

Susan will demonstrate materials and techniques used by pastel artists throughout the Tour. You can meet her and view her pastels during the Spring Art Tour at the
Mazomanie Historic Art Center | 103 Crescent Street, Mazomanie, WI 53560

SusanKlabak.com | sklabak@gmail.com | 608-438-0002