Papier-mâché armature process photos by Susan Komer

For those of you who follow my work, you know I'm very interested in sculpting...particularly papier-mâché. Yesterday I finally started one that is to represent myself.  It will end up being a  part of a much larger project, but I've noticed an interest in these sculptures so I thought I'd share something new that I'm trying out as an armature.  I've never done this before and only recently discovered the wonders of it.  I'm going to include a few photos but the process is basically to wrap yourself in tape, cutting it off and reassembling it to create a shell that can be used as is or as an armature for other things.  Its been interesting to say the least.  I'll keep posting as it progresses so stay tuned :)

Sketch of the day...by Susan Komer

So, if you're wondering where I've been...I've been working!  On art of course, all sorts...playing with watercolor, oil pastels and most recently...drawing!  On Monday I started sketching again...now every day I do a warm up sketch and this week I've been working on a portrait of my youngest son.  The portrait is not yet complete, but I thought I'd pop in and let you see my last 3 sketch/drawings.  It has been awhile since I really focused on my drawing skills and I must admit that I'm truly enjoying my drawing time.  Yes I'm still out photographing constantly, but this girl is no one trick pony.  Art, its all I know, its who I am and it makes me happier than anything else possibly could!

Hiking Hocking Hills, photos by Susan Komer

My previous post was of a rock climber I saw in Hocking Hills...today I thought I would post a few of the other great shots I was able to get while out hiking.  Yes, hiking is one of my all time favorite activities.  I really enjoy being outdoors, be it hiking the streets of the city or hitting the trails...if the weather permits, I can be found wandering with my camera.  One thing you won't be able to do is contact me via cell phone, its one of those things I just don't carry along while I'm out...one sure fire way to miss what's going on in the real world is to carry a cell...something I have no interest in! Please feel free to visit me on Flickr to view even more of my photographic works.  https://www.flickr.com/photos/123441024@N03/

photo work by Susan Komer

Some recent photos taken while exploring different dams & parks in Ohio.

Acrylic painting on panel in progress by Susan Komer

I've been busy finishing up this semester of school...studying for exams, writing final papers and this...a final painting for my painting 2 class.  I've been working in acrylic on panel...the first panel I've ever constructed on my own.  It was an interesting and quite simple process really, once you get passed the fear of those friggen saws!  Yes they are dangerous and the noise is deafening...but the results of a panel are wonderful.  In the past I've stretched my own canvas and worked on papers, cardboard, and anything else that stayed still long enough for me to gesso...but panel is by far my favorite.

My original piece is a mixed media piece of this same image...though I must confess that through a bit of experimentation I had a catastrophic failure.  I was sculpting the image out of papier mache and wanted to see what would happen by adding an air dry clay to the mix...my greatest fear happened...massive cracking.  In its own way it is interesting to look at...so I'm continuing to work the piece, I'll be posting pics of that later.  For now, this is the work in progress of the acrylic on panel.  I used a glaze for the background/water...the rest is acrylic with retardant for the purposes of blending.

The hardest part seems to be waiting for one part to dry before I start hitting the next.  The painting is currently a bit further along than this, but I thought I'd at least update you all to where I am at this point with a photo of the painting from last night.  As I get a bit further with this one and the other...yes I fully intend to finish that other one...cracks and all...I'll post more pics.

Enjoy!  And don't forget, you can find me on flickr & instagram.  I hope you'll choose to follow me here on my blog & on my other feeds...thanks for stopping by!

A new mixed media abstract painting by Susan Komer

For this painting I was doing a lot of experimentation with different mediums to see what would happen.  I was playing with glazing, modeling paste, wax, wax paper, newspaper, plastic wrap, packaging bubbles...you name it, I think I tried it.  I'm a very process oriented painter...thinking more about the materials and how I apply them.  Part of the fun for me is in constructing something new.  I did this painting to test out some things and now I'm going to work a new one based on some of what I've learned while doing this one.  The next painting will deal mainly in glazing with paper...I've started it, but only have the base down.  I'll post a progress pic once it gets a little further, but until then, here's the one I finished...enjoy!

Photography by Susan Komer

I went for a two hour walk this morning in Clintonville, Ohio.  The weather was beautiful, 80 degrees, only slightly overcast with a breeze just perfect for walking.  I shoot with a Nikon 610 that I bought just a little under a year ago.  Though I do have both Nikon & Canon, I prefer Nikon.  When I shoot film I have a massive collection of film camera's but favor my old Pentax and my Holga 120mm.

If you enjoy my work, you can also view my photo stream on Flickr by doing a copy/paste of the following link. https://www.flickr.com/photos/123441024@N03/

Mixed Media abstract painting in progress by Susan Komer

Mixed Media has always been my favorite form of abstract painting.  I've been working on this one for a bit as I've been using it to experiment with modeling paste, glazes and different found materials.  This one is almost done, though after working my way through it, I've found a few new processes I plan to use for the next one.  

Enjoy :)

New works by Susan Komer

New works...

It has been a very busy year as I'm finishing up my last year at OSU.  While trying to complete works for class, I've also been trying to build up work for my personal portfolio.  This past year I've done several new and exciting things including building my own pinhole cameras (the one pictured is a papier-mâché pig where the snout is used as the shutter, images shot onto 4x5 sheet film) and a slit cam (featured with a full length 120mm image) which were featured in a show at the beginning of this year called the Great Camera Build Off.  I've also been working on abstract paintings ( the acrylic paintings in red--relating to my own fathers battle with alcoholism) and some new sculptures which just aren't quite ready to share. The first six images were shot in Mount Sterling Ohio as well as at Deer Creek State Park in Ohio and the double image with me sitting between them began as a class project but have become a growing series of work.  Enjoy!

Thanks for stopping by!  I encourage you comment on my work and if you're interested in making a purchase, please contact me via my Facebook link through a private message or Google+.  https://www.facebook.com/1.Sue.z.que