Exhibit features comical element, vibrant colors
Austin artist Susan Kemper discusses her artwork with Marilyn Stevens. Kemper says most of her paintings are comical and whimsical. Her exhibition, “Blissful Blues and Pointillism Purples,” opened at the Denton Greater Arts Council on Monday and will run through Dec. 28.
Trent Johnson
Staff Writer
The Center for Visual Arts’ most recent display in its Gough Gallery features up and coming artist Susan Kemper’s selection, “Blissful Blues and Pointillism Purples.”
Art fans can view Kemper’s first exhibit for free through Dec. 28.
Kemper, a native of Liberty Hill, Texas, caught the art council’s eye with her bright folk art, which features vibrant colors.
“Our exhibits are selected by a committee of the Greater Denton Arts Council,” said Rita Burleson, president of the council. “They know the uniqueness [of the collection], we always look for something unusual and large enough for the room here. These paintings are very neat and colorful and just fit perfectly.”
After teaching for 29 years, Kemper said painting is her way of taking the next step in life.
“This is like my first year teaching,” Kemper said. “I always liked painting, but I just started in the last couple years doing it on a canvas. This is my way of showing my kids that even though I’m 60 years old, I can still kick butt at something.”
Kemper has developed her own style of painting, which her husband has coined “Blue Collar Impressionism.”
The style includes many satirical paintings of dogs, cats and even cars. Even with the small doses of comedy in each piece of art, Kemper said the most important thing to her is the detail.
“I try to paint authentically,” Kemper said. “I try to spoof things, though, because I want all my pictures to have a comical element in them. I want people to look at my work and see a story behind them. I want people to try to discover what I was thinking.”
The entire process has reinvigorated Kemper and has given her a new obstacle and challenge. She said that those challenges are allowing her to keep learning as she continues to make her way onto the art scene.
“I really think you have to keep stretching your brain,” Kemper said. “When you stop, that’s when you bottom out. So the whole process of taking pictures, drawing it out and then painting it is my way of stretching.”
Attendees of the exhibit’s opening reception took notice of the artist’s observations and simple style.
“I really enjoyed her depictions of animals,” Peggy Capps said. “I love it because you can identify what everything is, plus the bright colors are lovely.”
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