Sue Toppen is an award winning oil painter from Monarch, Montana, whose work is characterized by juicy impressionistic brush strokes, lively color and whimsical themes. Gestural figures and architecture are Sue’s favorite subjects but her paintings may also depict still lifes and landscapes. “Wherever I see patterns of color, shape or shadow –I am moved to try to capture (or maybe more accurately exaggerate) it on canvas.” Sue works exclusively in oil with what is called a “wet on wet” technique often mixing color on the canvas itself.
“When I paint in nature (plein air) I find myself compelled to include the elements that indicate “the hand of man” upon the scene –while my colleagues are painting the pristine Montana landscapes as they might have been seen 200 yrs ago –I am always finding the errant sign, bridge or building to illustrate this interaction.”
Sue’s art work is nourished by her travels with husband Chris. Recently they spent time in Savannah, Ga, Cocoa Beach, Florida and San Antonio, TX where Sue joined the Copinni Plein Air group for a day of painting at the exquisite botanical gardens. Several weeks in Washington DC were put to good use at the National Gallery, The Renwick and Corcoran Gallery studying the work of the masters first hand. In the fall of 2004, the couple plans to go back to Europe and to visit Seville, Spain for the first time. Japan, Portugal, Germany, The Netherlands, France, England, Mexico and the West Indies have been among their destinations in recent years.
Sue has studied in Montana with landscape artist Tom English and with figure painter Carolyn Anderson and has been a frequent participant in workshops at the Scottsdale Artists School in Arizona with such masters as: Ken Auster- Laguna Beach ,CA; Tom Browning- Sisters, OR and Hedi Moran- Scottsdale, AZ. and most recently figure painter Kim English of Colorado. Sue is a member of Copinni Art Academy in San Antonio, TX and shows at various venues in San Antonio and Scottsdale/Phoenix. In Montana she is represented by GALLERY 16 in Great Falls.
Sue is a member of FOUR WEST ART LEAGUE and maintains a studio in the artists enclave in the Columbus Center 1601 2nd Ave North - Fourth floor west wing.
Future projects include: Riverfest Invitational Art Gala, Art Show San Antonio, TX (August and September), Buffalo Herd 3-D Buffalo (unveiled in June 2005). Major Installation and Show beginning June 1,2005 at Gallery 16.