"Susan Dorothea White ... explores the most intimate experiences of her life, as well as more topical subjects, in meticulously limned paintings on wood panels. Her ability to examine unflinchingly such personal milestones as her surgery for a benign brain tumour with a dazed self-portrait in a vertiginously askew hospital setting results in some of the most emotionally jarring narrative imagery in recent art."

Gallery & Studio, New York (1998)

The artist has developed a technique using multiple washes of acrylic paint on plywood panels, often accentuating the wood grain to create texture through translucent glazes. Major paintings are developed through preliminary watercolour compositions and from numerous drawings and pen sketches. The artist favours watercolour for spontaneous work, flower and nature studies.

PAINTINGS

"Susan Dorothea White ... explores the most intimate experiences of her life, as well as more topical subjects, in meticulously limned paintings on wood panels. Her ability to examine unflinchingly such personal milestones as her surgery for a benign brain tumour with a dazed self-portrait in a vertiginously askew hospital setting results in some of the most emotionally jarring narrative imagery in recent art."

Gallery & Studio, New York (1998)

The artist has developed a technique using multiple washes of acrylic paint on plywood panels, often accentuating the wood grain to create texture through translucent glazes. Major paintings are developed through preliminary watercolour compositions and from numerous drawings and pen sketches. The artist favours watercolour for spontaneous work, flower and nature studies.

THEME: People
People
68 Works to view
68 Works to view

People: The human narrative and genre scenes inspired by domestic situations, people at work, musicians, commuters, social issues, blindness, illness, poverty, old age. Portraits include family members, self-portraits, children, babies, and people in their environment. In major paintings the subject is repeated from varied viewpoints in a fugal style composition.
  • Brother Bill Reading, c. 1961
    oil on composition board
    42 x 33.5 cm
  • Mum's Centenarian Sunset, 2013-2014
    acrylic on Australian red cedar panel
    60 x 90 cm
  • The Anatomy Lesson of Dr Freeman, 2012
    acrylic on panel
    120 x 153 cm
  • Go Granny, Go!, 2003
    acrylic on panel
    65 cm
  • Menopausal Me in a Saucepan Lid, Warts 'n All, with Everything, including the Kitchen Sink, 2001
    acrylic and collage on panel
    60 x 120 cm
  • The Histology Lecture, 1999-2000
    acrylic on panel
    120 x 120 cm
  • Recovery after Brain Surgery, 1998
    acrylic on panel
    140 x 120 cm
  • The Blind Woman of Annandale, 1998
    acrylic on panel
    112 x 112 cm
  • Freudian Early Morning, 1998
    acrylic on panel
    107 x 132 cm
  • Me after Brain Surgery, 1997
    acrylic on panel
    102 x 72 cm
  • The Crowning with Sexism, 1994
    acrylic on Australian red cedar panel
    74 x 59 cm
  • Paul the Environmentalist, Levitating in the Rainforest, 1993-1999
    acrylic on panel
    120 x 240 cm
  • The Seven Deadly Sins of Modern Times (painting), 1993
    acrylic on wooden tabletop
    dia. 123 cm
  • To Cut Both Ways (painting), 1993
    acrylic on panel
    100 x 100 cm
  • The Inspired Lecturer, 1992 and 1998
    acrylic on panel
    120 x 120 cm
  • The Seven Deadly Isms, 1992
    acrylic on wooden tabletop
    dia. 122 cm
  • Brian Phoning Australia from Weesp (The Netherlands), 1991, 1996
    acrylic on panel
    77 x 70 cm
  • Backyard Gossip in Weesp / Homesick, 1991
    acrylic on panel
    75 x 122 cm
  • The Man in Drag, the Violinist, the Artist, and the Thief on a Tram in Amsterdam, 1990
    acrylic on panel
    94 x 63 cm
  • The Absence of the Prodigal Daughter / The Absence, 1990
    acrylic on panel
    198 x 125 cm
  • Dad in Hospital / The Diabetic, 1989
    acrylic on panel
    90 x 60 cm
  • The First Supper, 1988
    acrylic on panel
    120 x 240 cm
  • Moods (self-portrait), 1986–1988
    acrylic on panel
    150 x 120 cm
  • Beatrice the Paper-Seller of the White Bay Intersection / White Bay Intersection, 1986
    acrylic on panel
    98 x 123 cm
  • The Life and Death of St. Francis of Australia (painting), 1982 & 1993
    acrylic on panel
    183 x 122 cm
  • Self with Children / Self-Portrait with Children, 1982
    acrylic on panel
    92 x 122 cm
  • Seated, 1981
    acrylic and collage on panel
    122 x 92 cm
  • A Month in Time (September 1980), 1980-82
    acrylic on panel
    110 x 120 cm
  • The Nun and The Knight on the Train to Rothenburg, 1980
    acrylic on panel
    57 x 122 cm
  • Autobiography, 1980
    acrylic on panel
    183 x 122 cm
  • Dreaming of Bavaria, 1979-80
    acrylic on panel
    183 x 92 cm
  • Noah's Rocket, 1978-80
    acrylic on panel
    122 x 81 cm
    Private collection, Germany
  • Dr Brian Freeman, 1978
    acrylic on panel
    213.5 x 122 cm
  • People of Sydney, 1977, 1982
    acrylic on panel
    183 x 100 cm
  • Clyde Thorpe, RRMSSO, Violinist, Teacher, 1977
    acrylic on panel
    128 x 113 cm
  • Damien White - Author, 1977
    acrylic and collage on panel
    71 x 100 cm
  • Yo-yoing / From the Fifth Floor, 1977
    acrylic on panel
    103 x 98 cm
  • The Magic Pudding (painting), 1977
    acrylic on panel
    94 x 63 cm
    Private collection, Australia
  • The Front Veranda / Do Not Go Gentle, 1977
    acrylic on panel
    97 x 71 cm
  • Brahms: String Sextet No. 1 / Sextet, 1977
    acrylic on panel
    183 x 122 cm
  • Professor Robert Connell, 1976
    acrylic on panel
    80 x 122 cm
    Private collection (deteriorated condition - unrestored)
  • The Cup of Tea, 1976
    acrylic on panel
    65 x 70 cm
  • Evening: Factory Valley, 1976
    acrylic on panel
    71 x 99 cm
  • Eric's Cafe - Resale Royalty Rights, 1974
    acrylic and collage on panel
    62 x 77 cm
  • Three-quarter Birthday (painting), 1973
    acrylic on composition board
    71 x 63 cm
  • Homeless Man in Primula Bed, 1973
    acrylic on composition board
    53 x 37.5 cm
  • Cul-de-sac, 1972
    oil with acrylic underpainting on composition board
    76 x 122 cm
  • Awaiting (Glebe), 1971
    acrylic on composition board
    66 x 56 cm
  • Joan Kinmont, Writer, 1969
    acrylic on composition board
    70 x 60 cm
    Private collection, UK
  • Paul, Soulful Young Boy, 1968
    oil on composition board
    30.5 x 25 cm
  • Michaela with Doll, 1967
    acrylic on composition board
    30.5 x 30.5 cm
  • Uncle Ted, Stirring Tea, 1967
    acrylic on composition board
    61 x 76 cm
  • Portrait of Baby Paul, with Hands, 1965 circa
    peinture à l’essence on cardboard
    60 x 40 cm
  • Michaela Cuddling Paul, 1965
    oil on composition board
    91 x 61 cm
  • Michaela Pointing to Baby Paul, 1965
    oil on composition board
    51 x 84 cm
  • Babies: Michaela and Paul, 1965
    oil on composition board
    40.5 x 50.5 cm
    Private collection, Australia
  • Baby Paul, Hot Summer Night, 1965
    oil on composition board
    122 x 91 cm
  • Baby Paul, 1965
    oil on composition board
    41 x 47 cm
  • Baby Michaela, 1964
    oil on home-prepared duck on composition board
    57.5 x 46 (var)
  • Perce (remaining fragment of destroyed painting), 1962
    oil on composition board
    81 x 29 cm
  • Rosalind Hughes, 1962
    oil on composition board
    61 x 44.5 cm
  • Dad (WRB White) under Tungsten Light, 1961
    oil on composition board
    48 x 42 cm
  • H L (Les) Cotton, 1961
    oil on composition board
    58 x 48 cm
    Private collection, Australia
  • Dad Working at Kitchen Table, 1961
    oil on composition board
    91 x 76 cm
    Verso: Rocky landscape, 1960 (76 x 91 cm)
  • Flick (Felicity Thompson), 1960 (circa)
    oil on composition board
    44.5 x 44 cm
    Private collection, UK
  • Rocky Landscape, 1960
    oil on composition board
    76 x 91 cm
    (verso of Dad working at kitchen table, 1960, 91 x 76 cm)
  • Ted Wearing Glasses, 1960
    oil on composition board (saw-cuts on right side)
    53.5 x 39.5 cm
  • Uncle Ted in Dressing Gown, Reading, 1959
    oil on composition board
    82 x 66 cm

PAINTINGS : People 68 Works
PAINTINGS : People 68 Works


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