Plein Air Paradise: The Art of Susette Billedeaux Gertsch
Master's Garden -- White and Yellow Daisies, oil
Susette Billedeaux Gertsch creates masterful plein air paintings under her studio name, Plein Air Paradise. The artist uses a skilled, gestural approach to paint a range of subject matter, with landscapes and architectural features from many different climates and settings.
Eglise de Caux -- Church of de Caux, oil
I really enjoy the overall atmosphere that Susette builds up in her paintings. These works have an easy softness about them that welcomes the viewer in and invites close contemplation. Though Susette doesn’t capture every detail of her landscapes, each of her canvases evokes a sense of being there, of seeing the scenery through one’s own eyes, with the kind of soft-focus that might come with a fond memory.
The front page of Susette's art website, pleinairparadise.com
I also like the way that Susette incorporates figures into some of her works. In certain paintings, a background figure is composed of a few strategic, expertly placed brush marks. In others, where the figure is more central, the artist is adept at creating life-like detail with rich shadows and highlights.
