Sepia Work | Susan Helen Strok

• Mabel's Journey

  Oil, Cradled Board, 36 x 24 x 2. The inspiration for this painting came from an old sepia photograph given to me by my daughter-in-law, Klaus. It is an image of her great grandmother on her wedding day in the 1920’s. Ma…

• The Water Boy

  Oil, 24 x 20 x 1.5. This photograph of a young boy watering outdoor plants has always appealed to me. Found in an old family album, the photo was probably taken in the 1930's. I was captivated by the image of this littl…

• To Mike with Love, Helen

  Oil, Cradled Board, 16" x 20" x 2". During WWII, it was popular for girlfriends and wives to have studio portraits taken to send to their soldiers fighting overseas. The pin-up girl style was prevalent then. So when I c…

• Garden Party

  Oil, Cradled Board, 30" x 22". This painting was inspired by an old sepia family photograph of a woman in a flowered hat. The photo was a bit hazy and indistinct, so I opened my mind to play. I knew the title was going…

• So Still

  Oil, Cradled Board, 24 x 18 x 1.5. Inspired by a photo taken circa 1927 of my aunt Martha. She was probably around 10 years old. I was intent upon capturing the interesting lighting in the photograph. I did a painting o…

• Mother and Child, 1919

  Oil, Cradled Board, 24 x 24 x 2. Inspiration for this piece comes from an old 1919 family photo of my maternal grandmother holding her baby Martha. This sepia painting celebrates the connection between a mother and chil…

• Prelude

  Oil, Cradled Board, 40 x 30 x 2. Inspired by an incredible sepia-toned photograph of my Aunt Martha from an old family album, this painting conveys a sense of timeless grace and nostalgia. This was the very first painti…

• Pearl Necklace

  Oil, Cradled Board, 24 x 18 x 1.75. Portrait of my mother as a young girl. Done from an old sepia photo taken of her at age 12 or so. The mysterious lighting in the photograph intrigued me and inspired me to create this…

• Anastasia's Bouquet

  Oil, Cradled Board, 48 x 36 x 2. I was inspired to create this sepia painting of my Polish grandmother from an old family photograph taken in 1915 on her wedding day. She was holding this amazing double tiered bouquet t…

• Sitting Still Drawing

  Pencil, Paper, 16 x 12. Drawn from old photo taken circa 1929 of my Aunt Martha as a young girl. Portrait is created using graphite, sepia, and tuscan red pencil on tan Rives BFK paper. The tan color and delicate textur…

• Helen's Curls, 1938

  Oil, Cradled Board, 18 x 14 x 1.5. This sepia painting was inspired by a photo of my mother taken circa 1938. Pretty sure it was a college photo from Cornell University where she was majoring in Architecture. I was fasc…