My dear friend Penny died. She was a woman like no other, and she always wore black. To her, black was not just a color but a state of mind. Penny was fierce. She was outspoken and opinionated and, occasionally, a Bitch. Penny’s personality illuminated a room far better

than any colorful outfit possibly could. Penny lived in her own reality, and, by doing so, forced me to establish my own.

Penny taught me how to be comfortable in my own skin. In my work, I

embrace the person I have become by rejecting the ideals placed on me by others. I express unity and tension illustrating an abstract world with warmth and eccentricity. I produce the world I see myself in. I look for the contrast between stereotype and the truer essence of being,

using gesture and form. Each canvas creates a new reality that awakens the viewer’s senses. A single, thick, greasy line has the potential to obstruct the colorful atmosphere it inhabits. An image comes alive with my bold and minimalist style. I create two worlds simultaneously — one imposed and one I create for myself. Even in death, Penny demands that I take charge of my life. This series, “Penny Wears Black," insists that my humanity is acknowledged and given space. When I create, I am in control of my images, my reality, my life.

SUSAN LISBIN

SUSAN LISBIN