Put the Pedal to the Petal

Exhibitions:

* Fleur de Lys, The Debut Solo Exhibition of Susanne Larkham, NHAA/Robert Lincoln Levy Gallery, Portsmouth, NH

Pedalx2 is truly my most ambitious work to date. Painted from a photo taken on Martha's Vineyard in 2019--what's not to love? A vintage Huffy bike & flowers... BUT, once I started painting it? Wow, what a challenge--from the elliptical shape of the tires & shadows to the camera phone fish-eye distortion of the perspective of the flower box and the porch to the paltry flowers and random items in the flower box.

First, I used a T-square to help true the porch columns and balusters; then to Demers Garden Center to remedy my flower woes--they let me come down and arrange their baskets in a way to photograph them in the same angle of light to cast interesting shadows on the window box. And finally, while I wish I could say that there was an easy way to get the tires to appear correct... that, my friends, was pure grit & determination. The back tire took no less than 8 redos and the front at least 4 (same for its shadow!) Taking in the 10 ft. view & cogitating were both vital to getting this piece to finally cruise...

Put the Pedal to the Petal will be part of my upcoming debut solo exhibition, Fleur de Lys, to be held at the New Hampshire Art Association's Robert Lincoln Levy Gallery in Portsmouth, NH. July 6-30!