Susan Christie

Susan Christie (b. 1942), began several decades of studying classical sumi-e (Oriental ink painting) and calligraphy in 1970 in Minneapolis with Reiko Ito at the Japanese Cultural Center. Ms. Ito was the daughter of the Ambassador from Japan to Mexico and was trained in many of the arts of Japan. When Ms. Ito relocated to Washington DC, Susan became the instructor and continued the classes. Between 1980 and 1984 she studied with several other painters, including Cheng-Khee Chee  of Duluth, MN. In 1983 she studied "The Anatomy of the Mountain" with Wong Wucius of Hong Kong. She began exhibiting her work and taught sumi-e at the Minnesota Museum of Art in St. Paul, MN and the Minneapolis Museum of Art, in Minneapolis.

In 1984 Christie joined the first group of westerners invited to study at the Zhejiang Academy of Art in Hangzhou, China, one of China's two oldest art academies. This several month long exploration of China's art, landscape and culture, led by Cheng-Khee Chee, was an unforgettable experience. Christie studied with some of the most important Master Painters and Calligraphers in the country including Zhuo He Jun, Wong Dong Ling, and Wenda Gu. On her return trip, Christie made an extended stay in Japan where she visited Kyoto, staying in a Buddhist Temple. Over the following years, a number of artists from Zhejiang Academy traveled to Minneapolis and painted with Christie in her studio. She maintains an ongoing relationship with her mentor Zhuo He Jun from his home in Hangzhou, China. Zhuo was instrumental in Christie's exposure to alternative ink techniques dating from early Chinese History.

In the late '80's Christie traveled for the first time to New Mexico, which added new dimensions to her work. Over the next two decades she began an intensive schedule of travel along with a number of solo exhibitions. She studied American art history extensively and traveled to museums all over the US. Her work evolved from traditional ink painting to brushed and poured abstractions. Born in Minneapolis, MN, she has lived in New Mexico, Seattle and Montana and now lives in Truth or Consequences, New Mexico with her husband.

The current show, Dewdrops & Moonlight, features Christie's latest body of work inspired by interplay of light and water. Her style is very dynamic and completely original, a refreshing departure from stereotypic western renditions of Oriental calligraphic brush strokes. In fact, one hardly sees any brush strokes at all in many of the paintings in this show. In one series, shimmering light appears to dance upon a foaming waterfall or a bubbling stream. Another series evokes glistering dewdrops on grass blades, or ice crystals forming on a window pane. These are not subjects easily rendered with traditional sumi-e techniques. Christie's latest work clearly demonstrates her mastery of the medium.

Click on images to view selected pieces

Inquiry/order: director@touchingstone.com, see Inquiry/Order

Bubbles II

Sumi-e on Chinese paper  27.5" x 54"

Pewter wood frame  34.5" x 63" 

 Pearl

Sumi-e on Chinese paper  13.75"x 13.5"

Black wood frame  27" x 21" 

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 Moon

Sumi-e on Chinese paper  13.75"x 13.5"

Black wood frame  27" x 21" 

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Frost I

Sumi-e on Chinese paper  8.25" x 11.5"

Pewter wood frame  16" x 19" 

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Frost III

Sumi-e on Chinese paper  5" x 8.25"

Pewter wood frame  12.75" x 15.75" 

Frost IV

Sumi-e on Chinese paper  5" x 8.25"

Pewter wood frame  12.75" x 15.75" 

Ripples

Sumi-e on Chinese paper  14" x 27.25"

Pewter wood frame  21.75" x 35"

Dew II

Sumi-e on Chinese paper  13.75" x 13.5"

Pewter wood frame  27" x 21" 

Dew IV

Sumi-e on Chinese paper  7.75" x 5"

Pewter wood frame  15.5" x 12.5" 

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Dew VI

Sumi-e on Chinese paper  7.75" x 5"

Pewter wood frame  15.5" x 12.5" 

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Thunder Snow

Sumi-e on Chinese paper  13.75"x 13.5"

Black wood frame  27" x 21" 

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