By Kevin Coughlin
Most artists are thrilled to find a patron.
Artist Susan Donnell is thrilled to be one.
The Morris Township painter created and donated a watercolor as the official poster of the 2016 Morristown Festival of Books, and she could not be happier.
“I’m a huge fan,” said Donnell, who attended all three of the prior book fests in town. “It enriches our community. I’m so proud to be part of it.”
Festival organizers at Thursday’s unveiling at the 70 South Gallery sounded delighted, too.
“Susan’s art is lively and fun, with great verve,” said Kristin Elliott, noting how the painting deftly incorporates the red eyeglasses from the festival logo. One eyeglass frame depicts the Vail Mansion, a backdrop of the festival; the other shows a book signing tent on the Vail lawn.
The festival runs from Sept. 30-Oct. 1. Sebastian Junger (Tribe, On Homecoming and Belonging; The Perfect Storm), will deliver the keynote.
Tickets are available here or by calling 973-539-8008. Talks by other authors — including four Pulitzer Prize winners– are free.
Donnell is vice president of Morris Arts, the nonprofit supporting arts across Morris County. She studied at the Art Students League of New York and has exhibited at the Summit Visual Arts Center.
She spent several months creating three versions of the festival poster. Usually, she works in oils and pastels, doing portraits and equine scenes.
For this assignment, Donnell felt watercolors were the way to go.
“I thought the poster had to be lighthearted, happy and fun,” she said. “This gives that feeling.”