Susan draws inspiration from painters of the Guilded age such as Anders Zorn, Joaquin Sorolla and John Singer Sargent. She also is passionate about artists like Philip Malavin from Russia and contemporary masters Richard Schmid and Nancy Guzik. Lyon’s technique is to paint wet on wet to start and then wet on dry for her finishing touches. “My style is realistic with as much impressionistic color as possible.
I like to combine wide brushes for sweeping strokes in the background with small, soft brushes for subtle details in my center of interest. One of my greatest passions is drawing, I hope to show collectors that works on paper is a wonderful addition to a serious collection.”
Susan lives in a rural area of North Carolina with her husband, artist Scott Burdick, whom she met at the Palette and Chisel Art Club in Chicago. She and her husband travel widely “The excitement of traveling, seeing so many new sights and people, plus incredible works in museums; combined with the challenge of painting on the spot make me a travel addict! Even before I go on a trip I’m planning the one after.”
Susan works equally in Oil and Pastel/charcoal and Mixed Media.
Selected Publications
- March issue of “Art Talk”, 1997
- July/August “Art of the West” 1998
- January issue of Southwest Art 2000
- June / July issue of “International Artist” 2000
- U.S. Art fall of 2001
- June/July issue of “Art Talk” 2002
- May issue of Southwest art 2004
- The Artist’s Sketch Book, August of 2004
- Art of the West Magazine, Cover and article; July/August 2005
- The Artist’s Magazine “Most likely to Succeed” October 2005
- Southwest art, Dispatches Painting in France; Aug 2006
- The Artist’s Magazine July/August 2008
- Southwest Art Magazine “Drawing out the Best” 2011
- Southwest art Magazine “The Artists Studio” January 2013
- Pratique De Arts, French Magazine April/May 2015
- Artists & Illustrators – How to use oil for Figure Sketching The Pastel Journal – Cover and article February 2018
- Art of the West – The power of two Nov/Dec 2018
- Art of the West – Cover and article “How I Got Here” Jan/Feb 2020
Self Published Book “Visions and Voyages – The Art of Susan Lyon” Published 2008
Honors and Awards
- 1992 First Place in the Gold Medal Show – Palette and Chisel, Chicago
- 1993 First Place in the Gold Medal Show – Palette and Chisel, Chicago
- 1998 Western Rendezvous of Art, Helena, Montana – Honorable Mention
- 2001 Western Rendezvous of Art, Helena, Montana – Honorable Mention
- 2003 Honorable Mention for Figurative – International Artist Magazine
- 2004 Second Prize for Figurative – International Artist Magazine
- 2004 Montgomery frame award – Masters of the American West, LA
- 2007 Salon Show Greenhouse Gallery – Honorable mention
- 2008 CreateBetterpaintings.com – Honorable mention
- 2008 First place Portrait Society of America competition
- 2016 Donald Teague, Works on Paper award – Prix de West, Oklahoma City
- 2019 Gold Medal – Oil Painters of America National Show
- 2020 Finalist in the Portrait Society of America Gold Medal show
Selected Exhibitions
- 1998 – 2008 Western Rendezvous of Art, Helena , Montana
- 2003 – 2005 Masters of the American West, Los Angeles
- 2012 – present Prix de West Show, Oklahoma City
- 2018 – present Masters of the American West, Los Angeles
- Instagram @Lyonfineart