'The Way It Was' by Susan Thornbury is an abstract composition full of texture and movement rendered in mixed media on panel. Measuring 36 x 36 in, this piece showcases the artist's distinctive style and command of composition. A perfect addition for collectors seeking contemporary abstracts with presence and personality.
Susan Thornbury creates richly layered mixed media paintings that feel both modern and timeless. Working on wood panels with plaster and wax, she builds surfaces that are as much about what’s revealed as what’s concealed. Her compositions often begin with structure—repeating motifs inspired by antique textiles, vintage wallpaper, or family heirlooms—then soften and evolve through an intuitive, hands-on process of scraping, sanding, and waxing. The result is work that feels quiet but deeply tactile, inviting viewers to linger and discover the nuance within every petal, line, and edge.
A background in graphic design shapes Susan’s sensibility: there’s a balance between pattern and spontaneity, symmetry and imperfection. Whether working in soft sage greens, misty grays, or whispery whites, she leans into the beauty of restraint, letting texture and subtle shifts in color carry the emotion.
Susan lives and works in Atlanta, where she shares a home with her husband, two daughters, and their spunky rat terrier...
Category
2010s Abstract Encaustic Black and White Photography
MaterialsMixed Media, Encaustic, Board