This body of work started with the drought in Northern California. Everyone was altering their lifestyles to conserve water—saving buckets in the shower to water the outdoor plants, replacing the lawns with mulch, and being conscious of all personal water use. My previous work has explored other environmental issues, so with the prevalence of drought on everyone’s mind and having grown up by the ocean, this body of work became and exploration of water: from rising seas to recreation. I am depicting a degree of tension between the beauty of the sea and its power.

The inspiration for this series emerges from my love and concern for the natural world. The forms and proportions of wildlife never fail to thrill me as I paint and discover the beauty of each subject. I convey this with my use of playful, provocative color.

I share my vision of a world in which we respect the diversity of life and create space in our land and in our lives for all creatures to live with dignity.

My focus in this series is to encourage preservation of ecosystems; preserving species variety and natural beauty.

Nature has always been important in my life, relaxing and quietly joyful.

I painted watercolor landscapes for 12 years. I see the landscape as an interconnected whole, and I like to suggest the possibility of man living in harmony, respecting the life around us.

I capture the mood of my subjects by using color that springs from my feelings and memories. My watercolors are created by layering dozens of glazes of transparent pigments to create a powerful sense of place.

“Abstraction demands more from me than realism. Instead of reproducing something outside of me, now I go inward and use everything I’ve learned thusfar in my life.” (Susan Avishai)

This series began as abstractions that morphed into figurative symbols and social groupings. After a while, the figures became musicians, perhaps reflecting the music I listen to while I paint. The music scene in Sonoma County is extraordinary. Many lifelong performers live here and their generosity enhances our lives and creates joy and community.

Abstraction is about visual experience, emotion, and ideas...the place it takes you, and most of all, the questions you ask yourself. This is the confluence of artist and audience, which is powerfully experienced in abstracted painting.

As I paint, I capture energy in each successive layer. Spontaneity reaches into the unconscious, and shapes and colors erupt onto the canvas conveying thoughts, concerns, and loves in a language that is translated differently by all who look.