"Blue Waves" | Evanston, IL

"Blue Waves" | Evanston, IL | Pastel on Paper | By Susan Cua

This pastel on paper by Susan Cua presents an evocative interpretation of the shoreline along Evanston’s lakefront, where Lake Michigan becomes both subject and atmosphere. Cua employs an impressionistic approach that privileges sensation over strict representation. The composition is vertically oriented, guiding the viewer’s eye from the dense, textured foreground upward into the expansive, luminous horizon.

The foreground is marked by loosely defined stones and fragments—suggestive of the rocky stretches commonly found along Evanston’s lakefront. These elements are rendered with gestural strokes and layered pastel applications, creating a tactile surface that contrasts with the fluidity of the water beyond. The use of turquoise and muted earth tones in this lower section introduces a transitional space between land and water, emphasizing the liminal quality of the shoreline.

Moving into the middle ground, the lake itself dominates the composition. Here, Cua builds depth through a range of blues, from deep ultramarine to lighter, almost translucent aquas. The waves are not rigidly delineated; instead, they are implied through rhythmic variations in color and movement. This painterly handling captures the shifting, restless character of Lake Michigan, particularly as experienced along Evanston’s shores, where wind and light constantly reshape the surface.

The horizon line is softened, nearly dissolving into the sky. This subtle blending reflects an impressionist sensitivity to atmosphere, where boundaries between elements are intentionally blurred. The sky, rendered in pale, diffused blues, reinforces a sense of openness and quiet, contrasting with the more active textures below.

Overall, the work conveys its motion, its light, and its contemplative mood. Through her use of pastel, Cua achieves a balance between immediacy and depth, allowing the viewer to engage with Lake Michigan as both a physical place and an emotional landscape.

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