Susan Pepler Exhibit Opens in Knowlton, The Sherbrooke Record Page 3, August 16th, 2013
Gordon Lambie – Special to the Record
Montreal Artist Susan Pepler will be bringing her annual summer show of paint-to-order artwork to Knowlton this coming weekend. The show promises more than 25 original paintings in, “loads of joyful colours,” on display, as well as several new works-in-progress, with subjects including vintage cars from Cuba, flowers, water lilies, and butterflies.
Pepler holds a diploma in illustration from Dawson College as well as a degree in Fine Arts from Concordia University, though she attributes her artistic education more to her experiences as a storyboard artist for television commercials.
“I sketched and drew and coloured thousands of drawings throughout ten or eleven years in that business,” Pepler said, “and that honed my skill even more.”
The artist related that she began painting commissioned work after a heartbreaking moment with the mother of a friend.
“It happened by fluke, in a way,” Pepler recalled, “my friend brought her mum to an exhibition in my home after the opening night was over and she fell in love with this painting of roses in a silver bowl. She didn’t know what the red dot meant, so I had to break it to her that it was sold, but as soon as it happened I thought, “I have to paint her another one. So that’s what I did.”
According to Pepler 25 – 35 percent of her paintings are now painted to order for varied clientele, with that number growing all the time. She said that whe would match a subject matter from her repertoire to colour schemes and sizing specifically requested by her patrons.
“I think I would paint anything that was beautufiul and colourful and stirred me,” the painter siad when asked what inpspires her, “I sketch and take a lot of pictures and then paint in my studio at home.”
Pepler shared that while she lives in Montreal, her family is at home in the Tonwships to their having had a summer home at a farmhouse in Mansonville, and owing to the fact that her sister and parents live in the area. From that the choice to exhibit in Knowlton seemed natural. She has been displaying her work in the town for close to ten years now.
Pepler’s exhibition opens in a new location this year at 286 Knowlton Road, a storefront located next to the Le Relais Bistro in Knowlton’s downtown. The show opens with a vernissage this Saturday, August 17 from 4 – 6 p.m. and will be open form 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. daily after that until the 31st.
More information about Pepler and many examples of her artwork can be found on her website: www.susanpepler.com