Susan Headley Van Campen
Some Peonies in June
Watercolor on paper
40" x 60"
Susan Headley Van Campen
Moon and Clouds, October 14
Watercolor on paper
9" x 12"
Susan Headley Van Campen
Sunset Islesboro
Watercolor on paper
7" x 10"
Susan Headley Van Campen
Sunset, April 21 6:45
Watercolor on paper
9" x 12"
Susan Headley Van Campen
7 January, Dusk
Watercolor on paper
9" x 12"
Susan Headley Van Campen
16 January, Early Sun and 10 inches
Watercolor on paper
9" x 12"
Susan Headley Van Campen
Rain Along 131
Watercolor on paper
9" x 12"
Susan Headley Van Campen
After Sunset on October 5
Watercolor on paper
9" x 12"
Susan Headley Van Campen
Daylilies and Monkshood, July
Watercolor on paper
20" x 14"
SOLD
Susan Headley Van Campen
Mother's Day, 7:30pm, 2021
Oil on panel
10" x 10"
SOLD
Susan Headley Van Campen
Rose Bush on Halloween, 6pm, 2021
Oil on panel
15 1/2" x 15 1/2"
SOLD
Susan Headley Van Campen
Long Cove, Sunset
Oil on linen
12" x 12"
Susan Headley Van Campen
White Clouds and Grey Clouds
Oil on linen
12" x 12"
Susan Headley Van Campen
Dark Sky over the Back Fields, Oyster River Farm
Oil on linen
12" x 12"
SOLD
Susan Headley Van Campen
Hay Bales in the Morning Moonlight, 2021
Oil on panel
10" x 10"
Susan Headley Van Campen
Oyster River, High Tide Morning, November 23, 2020
Oil on panel
10" x 10"
Susan Headley Van Campen
Long Cove after Sunset, 2020
Oil on linen
12" x 12"
SOLD
Susan Headley Van Campen
Full Moon, December 30, 2020, 6:30AM, 2020
Oil on wood
8" x 8"
Susan Headley Van Campen
Puddle in the Middle, 2020
Oil on panel
10" x 10"
Susan Headley Van Campen
Early AM Tenants Harbor, 2021
Oil on panel
12" x 12"
Susan Headley Van Campen
Between Job and Middle Islands, Islesboro, 2020
Oil on panel
10" x 10"
Susan Headley Van Campen
Golden Apple Tree
Oil on linen
12" x 12"
SOLD
Susan Headley Van Campen
Fog on Islesboro, from Long Ledge
Oil on canvas
12" x 12"
SOLD
Susan Headley Van Campen
Yellow Morning in June with Buttercups (Where the Deer Hide)
Oil on linen
12" x 12"
Susan Headley Van Campen
Yellow Morning, Penobscot Bay
Oil on linen
12" x 12"
Susan Headley Van Campen
Penobscot Bay, Dark Sky with Yellow Light
Oil on canvas
12" x 12"
Susan Van Campen
Buttercups, June 10, Oyster River Farm
Oil on wood
10h x 10w in
Susan Headley Van Campen
Fog on August 21, Oyster River Farm
Oil on panel
12" x 12"
Susan Headley Van Campen
Fresh Snow and Arborvitae in Early April
Oil on panel
12h x 12w in
SOLD
Susan Headley Van Campen
Sunrise, St. George River
Oil on linen
8" x 9"
SOLD
Susan Headley Van Campen
January 24, Afternoon
Oil on board
10" x 10"
Susan Headley Van Campen
Apples and Dahlias, September, 2020
Watercolor on paper
23" x 30"
Susan Headley Van Campen
Lilies
Watercolor on paper
30" x 23"
Susan Headley Van Campen
Begonia, 2020
Watercolor on paper
9 1/2" x 8"
Susan Headley Van Campen
Greta's Dahlias in Nana's Glass
Watercolor on paper
9" x 9"
Susan Headley Van Campen
Calendulas, October
Watercolor on paper
8-1/2" x 8-1/2"
Susan Headley Van Campen
Black Walnuts
Watercolor on paper
23" x 30"
Susan Headley Van Campen
Lettuce, Lilies and Begonias
Watercolor on paper
23" x 30"
Susan Headley Van Campen
White Zinnias and Blackberries
Watercolor on paper
23" x 30"
SOLD
Susan Headley Van Campen
Preference, Floribunda
Watercolor on paper
23" x 30"
Susan Headley Van Campen
Zinnias and Nasturtiums, Late Summer
Watercolor on paper
23" x 30"
SOLD
Susan Headley Van Campen
Cymbidium
Watercolor on paper
29" x 41"
SOLD
Susan Headley Van Campen
Lilies and Hydrangea
Watercolor on paper
16" x 16"
SOLD
Susan Van Campen
Oyster River and the Blue Cloud
Watercolor on paper
9h x 12w in
Susan Headley Van Campen
Pale Morning Snow
Watercolor on paper
10h x 14w in
Susan Van Campen
From Pendleton Point, September 12
Watercolor
9h x 12w in
Susan Van Campen
Our Barn in Snow
Watercolor on paper
9h x 12w in
Susan Van Campen
November 14, Morning
Watercolor on paper
10h x 14w in
SOLD
Susan Van Campen
10 February, After the Blizzard
Watercolor on paper
7h x 14w in
Susan Van Campen
Peabody Cottage Dusk, December 10
Watercolor on paper
8h x 11w in
SOLD
Susan Van Campen
Sunset on January 22
Watercolor on paper
9h x 10w in
Susan Headley Van Campen
View of Plum Island
Watercolor on paper
6-1/2" x 9"
Susan Headley Van Campen
Fog, Southwest Harbor
Watercolor on paper
10" x 14"
Susan Headley Van Campen
Yellow Oyster River Farm, January 27
Watercolor on paper
6-1/2" x 9"
Susan Headley Van Campen
Northern Island, March 31
Watercolor on paper
9" x 12"
Is a child whose parents are successful artists inclined to become an artist, and when this happens, why does it happen? Is it genetic or the result of being raised by artists in a home full of art?
In the case of the Van Campens, it was probably a bit of both—nature plus nurture. Artists Tim and Susan raised two daughters in a Thomaston, Maine, home filled with art, and both parents worked full-time in home studios, thereby immersing their girls in that world. The family tree also includes both artists and art lovers.
Susan Headley Van Campen’s June 2013 show of watercolors at Hirschl & Adler was reviewed by Wall Street International.
Both artist and naturalist, Susan Van Campen draws her inspiration from the world out of doors – from the sloping fields unfolding outside her window and from the shapes and shades of the flowers that she herself has tended. Nature is her subject and she is keenly aware that it is fleeting and ever-changing.
Susan Van Campen’s plein-air oil paintings are painted with the confident brushwork of a watercolorist, achieving bold impressions of Maine’s landscapes. Her small impressions capture big moments – rapidly changing weather, vast landscapes, dramatic shadows, and heavy clouds.
Susan Van Campen received her certificate of fine art from the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in Philadelphia, PA. She has had solo exhibitions at Hirschl and Adler Modern, New York, NY; Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia, PA; Clark Gallery, Lincoln, MA; and Gross McCleaf Gallery, Philadelphia, PA, among others. Her works are held in numerous public collections both nationally and internationally.
“I like to paint what I see that strikes me at the moment. Things that don’t last long – like flowers and skies, water, the sunrise, clouds, approaching storms, a dandelion, an open tulip just before the petals fall off – a poppy bud before it bursts … as simple as possible, without laboring. I am trying to capture the color and shape the first time, that’s all.”
WATERCOLOR MASTERCLASS, Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, Philadelphia, April 30 – May 1, 2016
WATERCOLOR PAINTING, Rock Gardens Inn, Sebasco Estates, Maine, July 10-15, 2016