Introducing Picture Stories
The journey of honing the gift of painting
A little introduction
Hi, I’m Susan and I’d like to share a little with you about my painting. I started painting in Jr. high and High school and tested several different methods.
For over 10 years, my sister-in-law, her daughter, and I attended a three-day summer painting class at my former workplace, Gullbrannagården.
Before then I had dabbled in oil painting after taking a class for a term in a study circle. After testing acrylics, I soon found that I enjoyed them better as they are water-soluble and easy to clean without strong chemicals. Also, you can make it look like oil with more paint and less water, or like watercolors by using more water.
It is a flexible medium that dries quickly, allowing you to work faster and layer colors without risking bleeding or mixing. If you need the paint to dry slower you can add a Gel Medium (matte or glossy). The gel lengthens the drying time of the paint as well as making the texture more liquid and thinning the paint.
Video Introduction
In the video below I talk freely about a particular attempt at painting with acrylic paint. I have written in more detail, the thoughts I speak of, in the text below.
A parenthesis: Although I am American I have done most of my painting in Sweden. I have learned the painting terms in Swedish and have difficulties finding the right words in English. The word ‘canvas’ escapes me often for example among other words. I leave my language mistakes just for the fun of it. It might give someone a laugh who can understand the difficulties of being bilingual.
My first painting for my first novel
Lilys Affär or in English, Lily’s Loaves
This was my very first painting in acrylic paint. I had used oil paint earlier and found it easier and more pleasant with water-soluble acrylic eventually. As you can see, I used very little water and thick layers of paint, as I was used to the look of oil. It worked well, as acrylic dries quickly but I still had to wait between colors and sections, or they would blend and result in a gray or brown and not the vibrant colors I wanted.
I call this painting ‘Lilys Affär’ or ‘Lily’s Loaves’ in English. Around 1999 I made my first attempt at writing a novel. I wrote in Swedish about an elderly lady named Lily and her store. She was moved to help a young couple in their relationship with each other and to the Lord.
The art of designing a book cover
My idea was to use the painting for the book cover. The motive of the painting is from a photo I took when I was visiting the island of Gotland off the Swedish east coast. I made the necessary changes to the painting, as I wanted a store and a restaurant across the street from each other to match the location in the book.
I used the old method I had learned in Jr. High School with a grid to enlarge the motive.
I was rather pleased with the painting, though I never attempted to do anything with the novel. Both the painting and novel have been lying in my office, gathering dust.
I’ve been concentrating my writing efforts in English now. I also feel that the genre I prefer of Contemporary Christina Romance requires a certain look for a book cover. A painted cover art would make the genre less obvious.
I’ll have to file my painting and Swedish book away for a later date. Who knows, maybe I will try to break into the Swedish market eventually.
My goal as of 2025 is to write a Swedish version of my Finding Your Path Series. I will try to publish one book per year until all four are re-written. Until then, I hope you enjoy the English version. For those of you who don’t speak Swedish, it’s time to start learning so you can see how the Swedish version turns out!
Sharing Picture Stories
I plan on sharing my paintings and a little story of each here on my website. I hope that somehow, I can inspire you to use the gifts God has given you to spread joy and the knowledge of our Lord, giving others a desire to seek a deeper personal relationship with Him.
Keep in touch
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