Recent Work

SusanMcCaslin_WallPaper_2015


Wall/Paper • Moira Fitzsimmons Arons Art Gallery, Hamden CT • September 2015 • 35′ x 12′



New Work • Project Space, New Haven CT • February 2015 • 24′ x 10′



West Rock State Park Boulder • Woodbridge CT • February 2014


Wallpaper_PRimage


Dyed Newsprint • Studio 2014


Susan McCaslin • Parenting • 18in x 9in • Ink with collage on paper • 2014


Parenting • 18in x 9in • Ink with collage on paper • 2014


Sequence of Views of Small Rock Tower • 7in x 7in x 14in • Paper Mache• 2013


Sequence of Views of Small Rock Tower • 7in x 7in x 14in • Paper Mache • 2013


Scaled Down Rock, Paper Mache with Corrugated Cardboard • 12in x 12in x 17in • Front and Side Views


Scaled Down Rock • Paper Mache with Corrugated Cardboard • 12in x 12in x 17in • Front and Side Views


Side View, Large Boulder, 2012


Side View, Large Boulder, 42in x 30in x 18in, 2012

My rocks and boulders take their inspiration from the landscape that surrounds me. From my studio and the streets in my New Haven neighborhood, I have a superb view of West Rock Ridge. The flat vertical layers on the large boulder represent the exposed trap rock on the face of West Rock. My other pieces are inspired by what I see on my walks in the woods as well as childhood memories like crossing streams by jumping from boulder to boulder.

Over the last two years I have moved towards sculpture, giving me a chance to get off the two-dimensional page and to work larger. I use paper mache which is a sensuous material and brings up old memories from grade school art class where we made dinosaurs and masks.

Painting the rocks is my opportunity to use color again. I had dropped color because I was focusing more on contrast and tone, and working with  pen and sumi ink and wash. Painting these paper sculptures is different from painting two-dimensionally. It is similar to set-painting, where the purpose is more description than expression.


Front View, Large Boulder, 2012


Front View, Large Boulder, 42in x 30in x 18in, 2012


Side View, Large Boulder, 2012


Side View Detail, Large Boulder, 42in x 30in x 18in, 2012


Top View, Large Boulder, 2012


Top View Detail, Large Boulder, 42in x 30in x 18in, 2012


Installation View, Small Boulders, 2012


Installation View, Small Boulders, Varying sizes, 2012


Installation Detail from City-Wide Open Studios 2012 New Haven


Leatherman Portrait behind Winter Coat, Paper Mache on Wool
Installation Detail from City-Wide Open Studios 2012 New Haven


City Wide Open Studios New Haven 2012


Winter Coat; Walk in the Woods; Branches; Leatherman Portrait; Shelter Drawings; Female
Portrait 
Installation Detail from City-Wide Open Studios 2012 New Haven



Branches; Shelter Drawing; Rock Drawing
Installation Detail from City-Wide Open Studios 2012 New Haven


Birds from "Walk in the Woods" Installation


Walk in the Woods with Rock and Boulders
Mitchell Library 2012, New Haven


Birds from "Walk in the Woods" Installation


Walk in the Woods bird drawings



“The Gods Are Not Happy,” Acrylic and collage on Canvas • 12in x 12in • 2011



Vessel #1; Vessel #2  •  Ink and Collage on Paper • 12in x 12in • 2011



Drawing inspired by the photo “Detail of Untitled. 1977. Documenta, Kassel, Germany”
by Robert Morris. From Overlay by Lucy R. Lippard • 10in x 8in • 2011



Drawing inspired by a Leather Man Shelter in North Greenwich, CT • 12in x 15in  •  2011


I am currently exhibiting at Crown Gallery in Bridgeport CT.
Exhibiting now at Crown Gallery.