Art can heighten our senses and grace one's soul with pure joy. Brushing strokes of energy on canvas, I attempt to capture the beauty before me, whether exploring the abstract possibilities of paint or inebriated by the colors found painting plein air or adhering directly to my studio set up. One things remains constant ~ I become mesmerized by the beauty of light. Painting is not just my passion it is my addiction. It is my intent to create serene yet compelling images, letting emotion guide my brush.
After graduating from the School of Visual Arts in New York City, Sue Barrasi traveled Europe and devoured the works of the masters — especially Claude Monet with whom she has been obsessed with since a child. While in Spain, she discovered the wonders of Joaquin Bastida Sorolla who has greatly influenced her work. Barrasi found her way to the Art Students League where she had the incredible fortune to study with Sherrie McGraw, David Leffel and Gregg Kreutz while working as a graphic designer unde the tutelage of William Heapps. She started to win awards in juried shows, continued to travel, financed by illustrating for various magazines and publications. Barrasi has designed postage stamps, book covers, created artwork for men’s apparel, international logos, backdrops for off –Broadway plays and posters. She has been awarded two Art Students League Artist in Residency and a New York State Council of the Arts Individual Artist Grant. When time came to raise her daughters, her true masterpieces, she laid her brushes aside and focused on fingerpainting, mudpies and murals. Eventually she began teaching part time at private art schools in New York and New Jersey and taking on private students. In 2015 she studied at the Ridgewood Art Institute with John Phillip Osborne, his collective impact on her sensibilities cannot be put into words. It is here she explored the prismatic palette which she continues to study today. “I strive for deliberate application of paint, trying to make every brush stroke significant. I continue to explore composition and textures, love moving a horizon and playing with pattern. Sometimes I forget all the above and fall in awe of the sunlight dancing on a scene or object and just grab my brushes and go! I am mesmerized by the play of light and how color harmonies can evoke emotions and it is this passion that drives me to paint.
Oil Painters of America
Resident artist Salmagundi Club
Signature Member American Artist Professional League
National Oil & Acrylic Painters' Society
Life member Art Students League
Audubon Artists
Hopper House Museum and Study Center
Plein Air Magazine - Night Life by Kelly Kane-painting featured, Jan 2023
Plein Air Magazine - Blue Skies & Beyond by Kelly Kane-painting featured, May 2023
Plein Air Magazine -11 Plein air Inspired Landscapes of Rivers and Woods by Kelly Kane-painting featured, Oct 2023
Darien News- Ocean View Exhibit, Article by Richard Kaufman Jun 2022
Art Ascent International Magazine - Summer Issue, painting featured, Distinguished Artist Award 2022
Art Ascent International Magazine - Grey Issue, painting featured, Distinguished Artist Award 2020
Alpha Art News About the Artist, Jan 2019
Person Of Interest PBS Television Series - Several Paintings Televised, Bonanza Productions
Fairfield’s Hamlet Hub - Floral & Stills by Lynda Falcone, Jan 2018
North Jersey News - Featured Article: Artists focus is to capture the moment by Aimee La Fountain, March 2018
Huffington Post - Art is a Struggle with the Struggle Erased by Vicky Tiel-Awarded painting published, Dec 2017
SouthWest Art Magazine - Nationally Emerging Artists, Sept 2016
Daily Voice - Passion for Light by Chris Langone, Oct 2016
Art Food Home - Artist Profile by Barbara Stroud, Oct 2016
Nyack News and Views - Featured Article: Local Art Index by Bill Batson, April 2014
Hook Magazine - Featured Article: A Natural Calling by Mary Ellen Marks, March 2014
Art Ascent International Magazine - Red Issue, paintings Featured, Distinguished Artist Award, 2014
Nyack-Piermont - Feast for the Eyes by Joe Badalamente, Feb 2012
HV BIZ -Featured Article ”Off the Palette” by Georgia Georgette 2011
Empty Easel - Featured Article: A Medley of Still Life Paintings by Cassie Rief, Oct 2011
Hudson Valley - Featured article by Suzanne Daycock, April 2011
McCalls Magazine - Several drawings and paintings published
Gazette Magazine - commissioned several paintings for use in their pubications
American Kennel Club - commissioned several paintings for use in their pubications
Chelsea House Publications - Commissioned painting for book cover art
Oil Painters of America - National Exhibits: 2021,1991, Regional Exhibits: 2021, 2018, 2012
Salmagundi Club - Members Show - Alden Bryan
Memorial Prize for Traditional Landscape in Oil 2022
Black & White Exhibit - Honorable Mention
Impressionism Today Tonalism Today Nautical Exhibit - SCNY Achievement Award
Cityscapes Exhibit, Sylvia Maria Glesmann Floral Exhibit, Moonrise Exhibition
Animal Attraction Exhibition - Certificate of Merit Award
Salmagundi Exhibit - Rosemary & Co. Brushes Award
Richeson 75 International - Landscape & Seascape: Meritorious Award 2022,
Still Life & Floral: Meritorious Award 2021
National Oil & Acrylic Painters' Society - International Juried Exhibit 2022, 2021
Best of America Small Works 2021
American Artists Professional League - Grand National Exhibitions - Audubon Artists Inc., Award
Seasons of Greene Exhibition - 9 Invited Artist, Athens Cultural Center
Gruber Gallery, New Paltz NY - 2 Person Show: MOMENTS
Geary Gallery, Darien Ct - SEASONS: A YEAR OF REFLECTION, OCEANVIEW
Pomona Arts Center, Pomona NY - 2 Person Show: WAYS OF SEEING
American Impressionist Society, Inc - Juried Associate Member Exhibition
Audubon Artists - Juried Annual Exhibitions and Members Show
Ridgewood Art Institute - Instructors Shows, Juried Exhibits: Kent Art Association Award, Fornaci Memorial Award, Pearl Paint Award
National Arts Club - Juried Exhibits
Catharine Lorillard Wolfe Club - Juried Exhibits
Greenwich Botanical Art Center - Curators Best in Show Award
Randy Higbee 6 Squared - Juried Exhibits
Hudson Valley Art Association - Juried Exhibit
Belskie Museum of Art & Science - Juried Exhibits
Springfield Museum of Art - Juried Exhibit
Whistler Museum of Art - Juried Exhibit
Attleboro Arts Museum - Floral Juried Exhibits
Islip Museum of Art - Juried Exhibits
Edward Hopper Museum & Study Center - Juried Exhibits
Manhattan Borough Presidents Office - Juried Exhibit
Cork Galleries at Lincoln Center - Juried Exhibit
National Associate of Women Artists - Juried Exhibits : Leeman Memorial Award, Honorable Mention
Rockland Renaissance - one person traveling exhibition of Landscapes of the Hudson Valley - project made possible by Individual Artist Award Grant by the Arts Council of Rockland and the New York State Council on the Arts
Plein Air Salon Finalist ~ June 2023
Bold Brush Painting Competition~Finalist Award Jan 2023
Salmagundi Art Club ~ Alden Bryan Memorial Award May 2022
Bold Brush Competition Finalist Award ~ June 2022
Richeson 75 International Art Competition ~ Meritorious Award 2022
Bold Brush Competition FAV15% ~ Feb 2022
Bold Brush Painting Competition~Honorable Mention May 2021
Richeson75 International Art Competition ~ Meritorious Award 2021
Salmagundi Art Club ~ Annual Members Exhibit~ Certificate of Merit 2020
Clarksville Gallery Small Works Exhibit~First Place 2020
Bold Brush Competition Fav 15% ~ Aug 2020
Salmagundi Art Club~ Animal Attraction ~ Honorable Mention 2020
Art Ascent International ~Distinguished Artist Award 2020
Greenwich Botanical Art Center ~ Curators Best in Show 2019
Ridgewood Arts Foundation's "Artist Award" ~ 2019
Bold Brush Competition FAV15% ~ Oct 2019
Bold Brush Competition FAV15% ~ April 2019
Salmagundi Art Club~SCNY Achievement Award 2018
Salmagundi Art Club~Rosemary & Co. Brushes Award 2018
Ridgewood Arts Institute~Fornaci Memorial Award for Oil Painting 2018
Bold Brush Competition FAV15% ~ Dec 2018
Bold Brush Competition FAV15% ~ Nov 2018
Ringwood Manor Association of the Arts~Third Place in Oils 2017
Ringwood Manor Association of the Arts~2nd Place for Oils 2017
American Artist Professional League Grand National Exhibit~Audubon Award 2016
The Art Students League~Distinguished Artist Scholarship Residency 2016
Ridgewood Art Institute Juried Show~Kent Art Association Award 2015
Trekell Fine Art Supplies~Featured Artist Jan 2016
Ringwood Manor Council on the Arts~First Place in Oils 2015
National Association of Women Artist~Honorable Mention Poster Design 2014
Art Ascent Art and Literature Journal~Distinguished Artist Award 2014
National Association of Women Artists NYC~Leeman Memorial Award 2012
New York State Council on the Arts~Individual Artist Grant 2012
The Arts Student League~Ruth Katzman Scholarship for Artists in Residency 2012
Palisades Parks Conservancy~Banner Competition Winner
Ringwood Manor Council of the Arts 47th Annual Juried Show ~First Place Oils
Art Society of Old Greenwich CT~1st Place
Art Society of Old Greenwich CT~Honorable Mention
Master Eagles Galleries NYC~Award of Excellence
Paramount Center for the Arts NY~2nd Prize
Ridgewood Arts Council Juried Show NJ~Honorable Mention/Pearl Paint Award 2008
United Pastelists of America~Juried Show Honorable Mention
Viking Gallery NY Juried Show~Honorable Mention
Art Students League NY~Merit Scholarship
Manhattan Arts International NY~Award of Excellence
North Tarrytown Arts Council NY~Award of Excellence-2 consecutive years
