Official Artist Susan Sommer-luarca To Paint Live At The 2013 Hambletonian On Saturday, August 3

July 25, 2013 - PRLog -- Susan Sommer-Luarca's commemorative painting will be donated to the Standardbred Retirement Foundation and be auctioned off to support of its great work.

Jason Settlemoir, GM, Meadowlands Racetrack stated, “It is thrilling that such an accomplished artist as Susan Sommer-Luarca will be the official artist of the 2013 Hambletonian.”

Jeff Gural, Chairman of New Meadowlands, LLC, stated “We are excited that artist Susan Sommer-Luarca will paint live at the 2013 Hambletonian – and capture the final Hambletonian at the racetrack as we have known it since it was opened in September 1976.  We are equally looking forward to Susan capturing on her canvas the new Meadowlands Racetrack’s state-of-the-art racing and entertainment venue scheduled to have its grand opening onSaturday, Nov. 23, 2013!

Susan Sommer-Luarca stated from her studio in Springfield, MO, “I can’t wait to paint live at 2013 Hambletonian at the Meadowlands Racetrack. I am confident that I  will capture the magic and energy of such a classic race. I understand it's an historic racing day because it's the final day of racing of the Hambletonian at this 36-year-old racetrack. But I am excited and looking forward to painting at the new Meadowlands Racetrack that's opening in a few months - it's going to be the one of the most amazing racetracks in the U.S. at which to paint live!"

For more information about Hambletonian Day, please visit: www.meadowlandsracetrack.com/hambletonian/

Twitter hashtag: #Hambo13.

About Susan Sommer-Luarca

Susan Sommer-Luarca grew up on a ranch in southwest Missouri. At an early age and with no formal art training, Susan was drawing and painting the many horses on the farm with great attention to detail. Susan has now been painting larger than life murals and fine works of art for more than twenty years, capturing humankind, wildlife and the world around us for all to enjoy. Early in Susan's career, she was an artist for Bass Pro Shops headquarters in Springfield, MO. She then traveled  extensively for Bass Pro, creating giant works of art across the country during their corporate nation-wide expansion.

Susan was chosen to paint at all three "Triple Crown" horse races for 2007 and 2008, including the "Breeders Cup World Championships" and the "Travers" at the famed and historic Saratoga racetrack in New York. Susan was the first artist to be chosen paint at all of these events in a single season and has been honored recently as the Official Triple Crown artist. Susan has also been the Official Artist of many Kentucky Derby and Preakness winners.

Susan was invited to paint at Super Bowl XLII in 2008 by the NFL. She completed two paintings LIVE of the competing quarterbacks Eli Manning and Tom Brady, and those paintings were unveiled on FOX "Super Bowl Sunday" to millions of television viewers worldwide.

Susan was chosen for the very rare and distinguished honor to be an Official Olympic Artist for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. Susan is honored again as Official USA Olympic Artist for the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver. Being chosen to be an "Official Olympic Artist," Susan follows in the footsteps of other internationally known artist including Andy Warhol, Leroy Neiman, Peter Max, Michael Delacroix, Pierre Matisse and very few other artists who have had this honor.

Susan's talents to paint not only wildlife but a varied subject matter in any number of different mediums and styles has been recognized throughout the art world from Susan's abstracts to realism, fine art paintings, and sculptures.  NASA invited Susan to paint live and commemorate the last space shuttle launch of Discovery, at Cape Canaveral, 2011.

In 2003, Susan was commissioned to create Official Paintings for the P.G.A. Nationwide Tour.  Susan was the first woman chosen for this distinguished honor. Susan was honored again when she was chosen in 2004. Both paintings were inducted into the Sports Hall of Fame in Susan's Home state of Missouri.

Susan received the prestigious Ellis Island Medal of Honor in New York City May 7, 2011. She joined medal recipients; Legendary Entertainer Jerry Lewis, Actress Doris Roberts (Everyone Loves Raymond), Actor John O'Hurley (Seinfeld), Legendary NFL Coach Don Shula,  & FDNY  Commissioner & 9-11 Hero Salvatore Cassano. Past Ellis Island Medal of Honor recipients include six Presidents of the United States, Nobel Prize winners, athletes, leaders of industry, artists and others whose work has made a lasting impact on humanity.  They are awarded annually to outstanding American citizens, from all walks of life, who have distinguished themselves through their significant contributions to this country.  The Ellis Island Medal of Honor ranks among the nation's most prestigious awards.  The U.S. Senate and House of Representatives have officially recognized the Ellis Island Medals of Honor, and each year the recipients are listed in the Congressional Record.
Find out more at: http://www.sslworldwide.com/index.php