Revision 881722812 of "S. P. Harper" on enwiki

{{short description|American artist}}

{{Infobox artist
| name          = S.P. Harper
| image         =SPHarper painting studio.jpg
| imagesize     = 
| caption       = S.P. Harper in her painting studio
| birth_name     = Susan Gail Picking
| birth_date     = {{Birth date and age|1955|03|21}}
| birth_place      = [[Pasadena, California]]
| death_date     =
| death_place    =
| nationality   = American
| residence      = Los Angeles, Calif.
| education    = BFA, Roski School of Fine Art, [[University of Southern California]], [[ArtCenter College of Design]], [[American University in Paris]], France
| alma_mater = Summa Cum Laude, [[University of Southern California]]
| notable_works = 
| style = Abstract Painitng, Still Life, Bricollage
| movement = Ecocentric Art Movement
| spouse       = 
| awards   = 
| elected   =
| patrons  = In the collection of Mandy and Cliff Einstein
}}

'''Susan Picking Harper''' (born '''Susan Gail Picking'''; March 21, 1955) is an [[United States|American]] artist based in [[Los Angeles, California]] whose work consists of abstract paintings that are part of the Ecocentric Art Movement. She is a teaching artist at American Jewish University in Los Angeles.

==Life==
Susan Picking Harper was born in [[Pasadena, California]], but grew up in [[Rancho Santa Fe, California]], [[San Diego County]]. Her grandfather, Archibald Picking was a highly skilled gem-quality diamond-cutter called a [[Diamantaire]] who was responsible for [[Diamond cut|cutting]], polishing and transforming a rough diamond into a finished gemstone ready for setting. This had an influential effect upon Susan's artwork. <ref>{{cite web|url=http://sdvoyager.com/interview/art-life-s-p-harper/|title=Art and Life with S.P. Harper|date=23 July 2018|website=San Diego Voyager|access-date=8 January 2018|}}</ref>

Susan studied art under the mentorship of Lyrical Abstractionist [[Paul Jenkins (painter)]] at the [[American University of Paris]], France. She received a Bachelors of Fine Arts degree from the Roski School of Fine Art at [[University of Southern California]] in 1977. She is also an alumni of [[ArtCenter College of Design]], Class of '79 in Advertising and Illustration. She lived in New York producing work for 12 years before moving to Los Angeles to teach and exhibit her artworks.  As an Art Professor at the [[American Jewish University]], she specializes in abstract painting and Ecocentric Art. She is currently a member of the [[Los Angeles Art Association]], as well as a Board of Director for the Westwood Branch Public Library.<ref name=artavita>{{cite web |title=S.P. Harper |url=https://www.artavita.com/artists/16025-s-p-harper%7C |website=Artavita |publisher=Artavita |accessdate=19 December 2018 |quote=By reforming and re-employing, the work fits into the Ecocentric Art Movement to reduce, reuse and recycle.}}</ref>

==Works==
S.P. Harper's concentration is an expansive study of gemstones and their physical properties: shape, facets, brilliance, luster, refraction, and color. By method of bricolage and assemblage, she explores reclaimed materials and found objects to construct a Combine Painting out of "discarded tablecloth, wallpaper, curtain, graphic posters, upholstery fabric, painting, canvas, commercial art, building and metal scrap".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.artcenter.edu/connect/dot-magazine/articles/finding-your-repurpose-meet-ecocentric-artist-s-p-harper|title=Finding Your Repurpose: Meet Ecocentric Artist S.P. Harper|last=Wetherbe|first=Jamie|date= 2 July 2018|website=Dot Magazine|publisher=ArtCenter College of Design|access-date=9 January 2018|quote="Diverse media such as discarded tablecloth, wallpaper, curtain, graphic posters, upholstery fabric, painting, canvas, commercial art, building and metal scrap are painting surfaces."}}</ref> This cyclical use of diverse mixed media in her body of work connects her to the [[Ecocentric Art Movement]].<ref name=artavita>{{cite web |title=S.P. Harper |url=https://www.artavita.com/artists/16025-s-p-harper%7C |website=Artavita |publisher=Artavita |accessdate=19 December 2018 |quote=By reforming and re-employing, the work fits into the Ecocentric Art Movement to reduce, reuse and recycle.}}</ref> She paints the light as it passes through gemstones employing classical still life techniques, yet their characteristics give way to an abstract style of painting.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.artcenter.edu/connect/dot-magazine/articles/4x4-fall-2018.html|title=4x4 Gallery: Alumni Work That Transforms, Moves, Emotes, Gleams|last=Schou|first=Solvej|date= 22 October 2018|website=Dot Magazine|publisher=Art Center College of Design|access-date= 9 September 2018|quote="S.P. Harper paints images of gemstones and jewels on recycled and reclaimed materials, mixing the classical tradition of still life painting with modernism."}}</ref> 
Each painting specifies the stone type, it’s original name, and the type of cut carved on the stone. The titles of her artworks encapsulates the wide range in diamond-cutting techniques. 

The collection of paintings, '''Gods of Fire''', are exhibited in contemporary art galleries throughout the West Coast including [http://www.torranceartmuseum.com/calendar/2018/17/3/odysseyii?rq=odyssey%20ii Torrance Art Museum], [[Bergamot Station]], [[Gallery 825]], and South Bay Contemporary Gallery.<ref>{{cite web |title=Espe Harper |url=https://www.saatchiart.com/www.spharper.com |website=Saatchi Art |publisher=Saatchi Art |accessdate=16 December 2018}}</ref> Her work is currently in the contemporary art collection of Mandy and Cliff Einstein.

==Notable exhibitions==
*''‘Wadjet’ Brilliant-Cut Diamond;'' Acrylic on canvas salvage, 30 x 24 inches was exhibited at the Neutra Institute Museum Gallery for the ''Dulce Stein presents 100 Artists Exhibition'' on October 4, 2018.
*''‘Ra’ Ruby on Landscape;'' Oil and acrylic on canvas 16 x 16 inches was shown at the [http://www.torranceartmuseum.com/calendar/2018/17/3/odysseyii?rq=odyssey%20ii Torrance Art Museum].
*''‘Amaterasu’ Cushion-cut Diamond;'' Acrylic on bandana, 59 x 59 inches was exhibited at [http://arts.aju.edu/exhibitions/current-exhibitions/imagine/ Imagine: A Visual Arts Exhibit, Platt and Borstein Gallery, AJU, Bel-Air, California]. 

==Publications==
*''[https://www.worldcat.org/title/101/oclc/958484002 101 Contemporary Artists]'', Artvoices Art Books, edited by Terrence Sanders<ref>{{cite book |last1=Sanders |first1=Terrance |title=101 Contemporary Artists |date=2016 |publisher=Artvoices Art Books |pages=218 |isbn=9780692650820 |edition=Vol. 1 |url=https://www.worldcat.org/title/101/oclc/958484002 |accessdate=23 January 2019 |ref=958484002}}</ref>
*''Los Angeles Art Association Book Volume 2''

==References==
 {{Reflist}}

==External Links==
*{{Official|http://www.spharper.com|S.P. Harper (Official website)}}
*[https://www.laaa.org/s-p-harper/| Los Angeles Art Association]
*[https://www.wmagazine.com/story/mandy-and-cliff-einstein-art-collection-home-los-angeles| Mandy and Cliff Einstein at Home: Inside the Museum-Worthy Art Collection of the L.A. Power Couple]

{{Authority control}} 
{{DEFAULTSORT:Harper, S.P.}}
[[Category:1955 births]]
[[Category:21st-century American painters]]
[[Category:American women painters]]
[[Category:Living people]]