Friday, March 13, 2009 8:53 PM CDT
Lerna woman creates detailed scenes on the feathers of wild turkeys
By DAWN SCHABBING, Features Writer
dschabbing@jg-tc.com
With no formal training in art to credit, Suzanna Fairley of Lerna obviously has a gift for detailed painting.
Some of the most intricate details flow from her paint brushes in colorful displays of patriotism and wildlife, including birds, insects, flowers and rugged barns. She also paints domestic animals and vehicles with great detail.
She mostly uses oil-based paints. Animals and humans alike appear to come to life through her skills.
But one of the most interesting elements in her work is that Fairley doesn’t create on canvas. Instead, she appreciates the challenges of painting on wild turkey feathers.
“I like painting on different things other than canvas,” Fairley said. “The feathers are a real challenge, and I like that.”
And no two feathers are alike, she said. Each one offers a different shape, size, color scheme and texture.
She estimated she’s completed about 30 of these projects, having used the turkey feathers for shortly more than a year.
“It just depends on the picture I intend to paint, as to which feather I choose.”
Also having an interest in photography, Fairley often takes photos and copies those images via the paintbrush onto various surfaces, but most recently, feathers.
Fairley, 48, said she’s been interested in art since she was a young girl, and has managed to use art in as many ways as possible during the years. An art teacher at Kansas High School helped her develop some artistic abilities. She took one basic art class in college.
“The feather painting just fascinated me. Within a couple of days (of learning about it) I began researching it,” she said. “I ordered 50 feathers at first. There is a process involved in painting on feathers, and at first I wasn’t sure just how to tackle it.”
Now, the process comes naturally. Depending on the project, one could take 30 minutes to paint, while others may take several hours.
Fairley said her love of rugged barns has led her to want to frame each painted feather in wood to match. Each finished product is completed with matting and glass.
Since she’s taken on the feather painting, she also created an art studio inside an outbuilding on her home property in rural Lerna.
The well-ventilated area is heated for the winter. Now as warmer days poke in, the sounds of nature can be heard through the wide-open doorways. Fans help keep the studio cool as the days warm up.
Inside she has a matting machine and a frame-making area that allow her to put the finishing touches on each project.
“The barn wood brings out the painting and the colors. I like to use plenty of detail in each painting,” Fairley said.
The turkey feather painting involves a process that includes applying a finish to the back of the feather and a primer to the front; planning and sometimes sketching; painting; and drying.
The completed painted turkey feather or group of feathers is framed, matted and topped with glass. Each is priced in a range of about $75 to $300, depending on the amount of time in each work.
“My goal some day is to do some shows. For now, I have shipped out some pieces to those requesting some,” she said.
In the past she also used her artistic skills on cowboy hats, slate, wood and saw blades. She’s also painted murals on walls.
“I worked in food service for a while and in that you can use art in presentation, too. But, now, I’m able to work in my studio, do my own matting and make my own frames.
“I like to include as much fine detail as I can, so I use the smaller brushes for most of these,” Fairley said.
When she’s not painting, Fairley is a full-time sales consultant for Tim Mooney Ford in Tuscola. She enjoys her art hobby on free evenings after work, and on scheduled days off.
Her family includes husband Clark, and daughters Lyndsay, Haley and Lacey. She has one granddaughter, Heighden. More of her work can be viewed online at www.countryclassicoils.com.
Fairley said her hobby of painting can be therapeutic.
“Sometimes when I get started painting, I just can’t get away,” she said. “I enjoy being able to come down here (to the studio) turn on the radio, paint, and just forget about everything for a while.”
Contact Dawn Schabbing at dschabbing@jg-tc.com or 238-6864.
Add your comments
Not already registered?
Then click Here.
Comment policy:
JG-TC.com encourages readers to engage in civil conversation with their neighbors. Comments that are submitted are not posted to the site immediately. They go into a queue to be moderated and may take several hours to be reviewed. Comments posted on Saturday may not be reviewed until Sunday afternoon.
In order to keep the page a set width, long lines (mostly long links) will be chopped. Try putting spaces in your links or consider using tinyurl.com to make a smaller link that you can include.
We will never edit or alter your comments, but we do reserve the right to remove comments that violate our code of conduct.
No comment may contain:
* Potentially libelous statements; such as accusing somebody of a crime, defamation of character, or statements that can harm somebody's reputation.
* Obscene, explicit, or racist language.
* Personal attacks, insults, threats, harassment or inciting violence.
* Commercial product promotions.
If you have any questions, please contact our moderator.
|
|
|
|
|
