lrs Shatter Susan Luminescence Susan Shatter

The artwork presents a dramatic and intensely colored depiction of what appears to be a celestial event – likely a sunrise or sunset viewed across a vast expanse of water. The composition is divided into two distinct zones: a turbulent sky dominating the upper portion and a reflective, horizontal body of water occupying the lower half.
Here we see an overwhelming sense of luminosity emanating from the central point where the sky and water meet. This light isnt rendered as a soft glow but rather as sharp, radiating beams that fracture across the canvas in a manner suggesting both power and fragmentation – a shatter implied by the title. The artist employed thick impasto strokes to build up the clouds, creating a palpable sense of movement and density. These are not gentle, fluffy formations; they possess an almost oppressive weight, rendered in shades of deep ochre, burnt umber, and touches of grey that suggest both storminess and underlying darkness.
The water below mirrors the skys colors but with a muted intensity. The surface is not smooth or tranquil; it’s agitated, marked by visible brushstrokes that convey ripples and reflections. These lines extend outwards from the central light source, creating a visual echo of the celestial beams above. This mirroring effect establishes a strong sense of interconnectedness between the sky and water, suggesting a cyclical relationship or a unified whole.
The black border surrounding the image intensifies the focus on the scene within, isolating it and lending it an almost iconographic quality. It also contributes to a feeling of vastness – the viewer is presented with this spectacle as if witnessing something monumental and beyond comprehension.
Subtly, theres a tension between hope and foreboding present in the work. The intense light suggests renewal or revelation, yet the turbulent sky and fractured beams imply disruption and potential chaos. This duality invites contemplation on themes of transformation, the interplay of opposing forces, and the sublime power of nature.