Sue Bell – At the Norfolk Botanical Gardens

July 18, 11:48 AMNorfolk Galleries ExaminerAlisha Brown

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Sue Bell has a unique style of watercolor and ink art.  I was immediately struck by the completely different style and sense of whimsy in the artwork on display. Her work is currently showing at the Norfolk Botanical Gardens Visitor Center.

Sue begins with layer upon layer of watercolor paint, following up with incredibly detailed ink, and finishing with some sparkles. Her paintings have come about as a compromise between her free-spirited, prismatic lifestyle and her exact, methodical painting style. She used to abhor watercolor because it was difficult to control, preferring other mediums instead. However, when she chose to inject her easygoing personality into her art, she turned to watercolor.  She loves watching the flowers form beneath her brush, fulfilling her sense of adventure. She is then able to satisfy the meticulous facet of her nature with the detailed ink work that follows.

Her work is inspired by her childhood spent in the Panama Canal Zone. Americans born in the zone are called Zonians. Even though they are American citizens, they are a world apart from the rest of America and when the canal zone reverted back to Panamanian control, many Americans stayed behind. Sue was not one of these, but migrated north to the states right after high school to pursue a career in art. However, she has not lost touch with her tropical roots. The longing to return to her childhood home is embodied in the lush vegetation and floral displays in her paintings.

The addition of rhinestones for a bit of sparkle to the paintings is unusual, but fits well with the themes. Sue is interested in light – the ways it can reflect and change the hue of a color and generally brighten a room. The rhinestones are her way of adding a bit of sparkle to the paintings and bringing that light to her work.

Her work is currently on display at the Norfolk Botanical Gardens in the visitor center gallery and will be so until the end of July. Go see it before the paintings go back their home in Richmond.