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Focal Point: Susan Ploughe
Visit Susan Ploughe's Canvoo Focal Point on the web




Light, composition, and color entice us with charming scenes including those inspired by a trip to China.

- Informed Collector

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Other Web Pages with info about Susan Ploughe

Susan Ploughe's Main Artist Website

Biography

First things first...
Ploughe rhymes with blue (and glue and hullaballou!)

Susan holds a BFA in Painting from Carnegie Mellon University. A native of Pennsylvania, she has lived in Illinois for 16 years. After many years of working as an illustrator and graphic designer, she turned to oil painting full time in 2002. Working both in the studio and en plein air, Susan prefers to explore a variety of subjects. She is currently working on a series of figurative works, many of which were inspired by three weeks of painting in rural villages of southern China. "I was surrounded by incredible scenery, and all I wanted to paint was the people. So much character is written in a person's face, and expressing that in paint is a constant challenge and delight. In my most recent works I'm letting the landscape back in, finding that I can reveal even more about a person by including their surroundings."

Susan is a member of the Oil Painters of America, where she has been juried into national and regional shows, the Portrait Society of America, the Plein Air Painters of Chicago and the American Impressionist Society (winning the M. Graham Award at the recent National Exhibition). She has been one of 52 artists juried nationwide to participate in Plein Air Easton, winning awards in two of the competitions. This year, she is one of 40 artists invited to participate in Wisconsin's Door County Plein Air Festival. Susan's artwork is in private and corporate collections around the country, and she paints portraits on commission.


Resume:

Education:
BFA, Painting - Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA

Member:
Oil Painters of America; American Impressionist Society; Plein Air Painters of Chicago; Portrait Society of America

Publications:
American Art Collector magazine, May 2010
The Richeson 75 International: Small Works 2010
Best of America: Oil Artists - Volume II, Kennedy Publishing, November 2009
The Richeson 75 International: Figure/Portrait 2009; 2008
American Artist magazine, February 2008

Exhibitions & Awards:
2010
"Facing East" - Linden Gallery, Ellison Bay, WI - Solo Show
Door County Plein Air Festival - Door County, WI - Invited Artist
RayMar Art Fourth Annual Fine Art Competition - Finalist
Salon International Juried Competition - Greenhouse Gallery, San Antonio, TX

2009
American Impressionist Society, 10th National Exhibition - Saks Gallery, Denver, CO - M. Graham Award
Richeson International 75: Figure/Portrait Competition - Richeson Gallery, WI
Plein Air Easton - Easton, MD - Quick Draw "Best Use of Light"
Best of Oil Artists Volume II - Kennedy Publishing - Invited Artist
Cedarburg Plein Air Festival, Cedarburg, WI - Honorable Mention
Salon International Juried Competition - Greenhouse Gallery, San Antonio, TX
The International ARC Salon Competition - Art Renewal Center - Semi-Finalist

2008
Art in the Barn, Barrington, IL - Invited Artist
"Exploring the Hidden Realms of China" - Barnsite Gallery and Linden Gallery, WI
Plein Air Easton National Juried Competition - Academy Art Museum, Easton, MD - Quick Draw Honorable Mention
Richeson International 75: Figure/Portrait Competition - Richeson Gallery, WI
"South of the Clouds" - TCG Nordica Gallery, Kunming, Yunnan, China
Winner - Shirl Smithson Scholarship; awarded by Oil Painters of America
Clair E. Smith Gallery, Barrington, IL - Solo show

2007
Oil Painters of America Eastern Regional Juried Exhibit - Weatherburn Gallery, FL
Art in the Barn, Barrington, IL - Top Ten Seller
Plein Air Easton National Juried Competition - Academy Art Museum, Easton, MD
Cedarburg Plein Air Festival, Cedarburg, WI
Oil Painters of America National Juried Exhibition - Whistle Pik Gallery, TX
Plein Air Painters of Chicago - Palette & Chisel Academy, Chicago, IL
Robert T Wright Community Gallery of Art, Grayslake, IL

2006
Terryberry Gallery, Grand Rapids, MI - Solo show
Oil Painters of America Eastern Regional Exhibition - Brazier Fine Art, VA
Cedarburg Plein Air Festival, Cedarburg, WI - Honorable Mention
Lake County Art League - Jack Benny Center, Waukegan, IL
Plein Air Painters of Chicago - Palette & Chisel Academy, Chicago, IL
Robert T Wright Community Gallery of Art, Grayslake, IL

2005
Featured artist - Gallery Munoz, Long Grove, IL
Milk Pail Gallery, East Dundee, IL
Plein Air Painters of Chicago - Palette & Chisel Academy, Chicago, IL

2004
Robert T Wright Community Gallery of Art, Grayslake, IL
Main Street Art Center, Lake Zurich, IL

2003
Robert T Wright Community Gallery of Art, Grayslake, IL
Mainstreet Art Center, Lake Zurich, IL

2002
Recent Works - Robert T Wright Community Gallery of Art, Grayslake, IL
Robert T Wright Community Gallery of Art, Grayslake, IL, Purchase Award
Arlington Gallery, Arlington Heights, IL

Collections:
Northwestern Memorial Hospital; Abbott Laboratories; College of Lake County Foundation; Bright Hope International; many private collectors

Representation:
Linden Gallery, Ellison Bay, WI
www.lindensgallery.com


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And, finally, for those who are searching for the Sue McElfish they knew
in their youth:
You've found me! I answer to "Susan" now, since, as you learned on this page, "Sue" and "Ploughe" rhyme. Put together, they sound pretty dippy as a grown-up person's name.

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Upcoming Events and Exhibits

The Richeson 75 International: Small Works 2010
Richeson Gallery and School of Art
4/7/2010-6/7/2010
Reception: 4/17/2010 (6:30-9:00 pm)


Salon International 2010
Greenhouse Gallery of Fine Art
4/10/2010-4/30/2010
Reception: 4/9/2010 (6:00 - 9:00 pm)

For more information, go to Greenhouse Gallery of Fine Art


"Facing East" - Solo Show
Linden Gallery
5/21/2010-10/23/2010
Reception: 7/17/2010 (Details to come)

The works in Facing East were inspired by the people I encountered when painting in China. Behind cultural differences I found familiar qualities of generosity, strength, hope, and community. Linden Gallery is one of the Midwest's premier destinations for Asian art and collectibles. "The works are beautiful, and we are confident that our collectors will be enchanted by them." - Brian Linden Linden Gallery Hwy 42 & Mink River Road Ellison Bay, WI 54210 (920) 854-2487


Cedarburg Plein Air Festival
Cedarburg Cultural Center
6/17/2010-6/27/2010
Reception: 6/26/2010 (4:30 - 7:00 pm)


Door County Plein Air Festival
Guenzel Gallery, Peninsula School of Art
7/19/2010-7/24/2010
Reception: 7/24/2010 (6:00 - 8:00 pm)

For more information, go to http://www.doorcountypleinair.com/