Why, yes! My art is in esteemed company. In the month of August, while my latest art exhibit is on display, the Michigan Shakespeare Festival is celebrating 25 years with performances of King Lear, Two Gentlemen of Verona and Cyrano de Bergerac at the Cherry Hill Village Theater. You have the rare opportunity to experience wonderful staging of one of the world's greatest playwrights and ponder over my stained glass inspired paintings at the same time! Special appreciation is

I am finally getting around to sharing some recent work with you! The oil painting at the right is one of my newest pieces. The painting shows a little angel statue, which stands as a monument in Bonaventure (meaning Good Fortune) Cemetery in Savannah, Georgia. Girl with the Upturned Shell was sculpted by John Walz. Pam DeCamp, a photographer, mentions a visit to this beautiful sculpture in a blogpost, "Clearly this person was loved by her family. The care in which the statue

What is your preferred atmosphere to work in? I love being in and painting in my studio. It's not large or fancy, but I have everything I need in there. I flip on the lights and Pandora, pour myself a cup of tea, set up my paints and get busy. I especially enjoy it when the weather outside is extreme. By extreme I mean a wind storm, snowstorm or pouring rain. The quietness of the snow falling and piling up creating a white blanket. Or the rain bursting from the sky to pound n

If you are one of those who makes New Year's resolutions, I have a great one for you to add to your list! Most adults would probably agree that being involved in creative activities is good for us. But let’s face it, some of us are drawn to our creative side more than others. Although there are many studies to indicate creative engagement is important in the growth and development of children, we don’t necessarily apply it to ourselves as adults. It has been proven that art b

It is definitely that time again - time to drag out the sketchbook, graph paper, ruler, gingerbread dough, oven mitts, frosting tips - you get the picture! And so that is why, when combined with a trip to South Carolina and another to New Jersey, I have not been in touch lately! This year I kept the gingerbread house idea simple. Originally, back in October, it was definitely not heading towards simple. I changed my mind and went with cozy and inviting; I had never tackled a

Busy, busy, busy!! Or should I say I've been fairly busy? I have been working hard to prepare for the second art fair of my career, which is only one week away! As you will recall the first was in Charleston. This time I will be setting up only about a half hour away in Ann Arbor, Michigan. It's one of the largest juried art fairs in the United States in that it combines four fairs into one. Truly you cannot see all the art in one day. It's a big deal and attracts a ton of pe

Check it out! I'm happy to report that both Dragoyle: Aniticipation and Kittygoyle: Study in Self-Control were juried into the Visual Arts Association of Livonia Spring Exhibit 2018! The display will be up throughout the month of June at the Livonia Arts Commission Fine Art Gallery. There is some excellent artwork in this show; if you are in the Livonia area, head over to the Bennett Civic Center Library (2nd floor) and see for yourself. The next art fair is right around the

JS Aitken blogs about preparing for first art festival - the Charleston-Mt. Pleasant Art Festival and posts her new oil painting "Jasmi

Kittygoyle: Study in Self-Control (18x24" oil on canvas) is ready to be seen, as promised last week. This is part of a "gargoyle" series, in which gargoyles or architectural details find their way into a stained glass window to create a new narrative. Check out Frogoyle: Escape from Washington Cathedral as well as Dragoyle: Anticipation. I have been busy, busy, busy! Not only have I been up to my knees in oil paint and canvases, I also added a page to the website. Check out m

Oh yes! It's time! Aitken art is indeed leaving the studio and hitting the streets. The tent I purchased in December is now going to be put to good use at three scheduled juried art festivals. My debut into the summer art scene begins in Charleston, South Carolina, which may seem a bit random. Why so far away, you ask? It just so happens that I have three children living there - one being an artist herself, who is participating in the fair along with me (or am I along with he

Happy Friday everyone! I was out of town this past week, visiting parents in New Jersey, and was able to put the final touches on two 8x10's - Crimson Pop (see March 29th blog) and this one. It seems to jump off the screen, doesn't it? It is really bright! I'm sure it's the use of the contrasting colors that's creating that effect. I am titling this Tangerine Joy because it seems pretty orange to me and kind of happy also. It is part of the 8 x 10" series I'm painting for tho

Happy Spring! Now that it's official we need the weather to cooperate. Perhaps before Easter? At least do away with the patches of snow... At any rate, I thought we could celebrate with a new painting called Crimson Pop. It's another 8 x 10" oil painting, with the design wrapped around the edge. Enjoy! #SusanAitken #JSAitkenArt #JSAitkenArtblog #stainedglassoilpainting

...Other paintings have more direct connections to my personal experiences and are more intentional. For example, Tranquil Garden is inspire

It's a rare person who doesn't love a beautiful flower - and they certainly abound in the wonderful world of nature. Very soon (March 20th, to be exact, if the calendar is to be trusted), we should start to see the beginnings of a fabulous season of bright greens, yellows, pinks, lavendars - a whole host of colors to remind us once again of the amazing cycle of life. A bit poetic, right? It is true, though, even if we don't articulate it; anyone who plods through a season of

I have been very busy lately, painting, planning, painting some more! Still on the easel, this little guy has a bit more to go before making his debut. I think he must have hitched a ride with the frog from Frogoyle: Escape from Washington Cathedral and was distracted enough to get stuck in my painting - you'll find out why when you see the finished painting! Speaking of Frogoyle, he will be hanging in a new exhibit in the art gallery at Madonna University in Livonia, March 1

Frogoyle: Escape from Washington Cathedral (18 x 24", oil on canvas) has just hopped off the easel. Fun for me was the frogoyle, inspired by a gargoyle who is normally firmly attached to the Washington Cathedral. Obviously, he is amazed to find himself in the U.S. Botanic Garden instead. Or in my own little pond - whichever! Reminiscent of the statue in Tranquil Garden, Frogoyle explores the idea of sculpture as just a part of a stained glass composition. Plans are already in

Happy first day of February! This is the newest painting from the JS Aitken studio, which is somewhat of an experiment. I wanted see how painting a small canvas would work out. This design is just 8 x10", the smallest so far. The painting extends around to the gallery wrapped edges, which are 1.5" deep. I wanted to do a few paintings for smaller spaces or for those who may like the style, but can't swing the larger pieces. What I need from you is a great title! I played aroun

What do "one painting, a tent and an Indian wedding" have in common? Well, I suppose they could be the start of a bad joke... OR they just be the latest news from the JS Aitken Art studio! I'm excited about this new painting, Tranquil Garden (oil on canvas, 24 x 30"), because it includes a sculpture. I visited the Linnaeus Teaching Garden in Tulsa with my sister last summer and fell in love with this sweet little statue. I incorporated the idea of silver stain (used in orig

Hello all! I hope you are enjoying your holiday preparations. I feel as if there are some things that if you don't have them done by now, you should probably just shoot for next year. That's how I felt about this gingerbread house - or at least how I felt about a week ago. So what has changed? Everything! I'm finally done! As of tonight - victory! For anyone joining in at this point, let me assure you that this photo is not the finished piece. This, however, is a really big h

Hello everyone! Are you getting the snow like we are here in Michigan? If so, I hope you all are snug in your homes safe and sound, enjoying a cup of hot chocolate. I'm still up to my elbows in frosting, gingerbread and chocolate - not a bad place to be! However, I thought it was time to give you another hint for our contest. For those of you joining the conversation today, I have a little contest going on. I am posting photos of my 2017 gingerbread house in-the-making and in