THE CONSTITUTION PROJECT ~ Constitution Prints by artist Susan Loy

Artist and calligrapher Susan Loy spent 2500 hours over five years hand-lettering all 7,628 words of the U.S. Constitution. Loy's feat dwarfs that of Jacob Shallus, the Pennsylvania clerk who was paid $30 to letter the original document on four sheets of parchment in 1787. Susan's seven watercolor paintings can fill an entire wall when hung in sequence. Susan Loy, previously Artist-on-the-Lawn at the White House, whose art is enjoyed by over 50,000 collectors worldwide, has created a series of paintings that are becoming part of history. The art has garnered awards, while spawning lively discussion from all sides of the political spectrum.

Loy’s model for this project was a symphony. The Preamble is like a Prelude where the major themes of the overall piece are established and then carried out in the six movements. The primary theme is "We the people." This phrase is repeated in the remaining six paintings where the words are paired with appropriate national icons including the Liberty Bell, the Scales of Justice, the Statue of Liberty, the Capitol, and the White House.

In addition, Susan has completed "The Declaration of Independence" and “The Gettysburg Address” as companion pieces for the Constitution Series.

Signed prints from an original watercolor painting.

Print Image Size: 9-1/2" x 9-1/2" Print Paper Size: 11" x 11-1/2" Frame Size: 16" x 16"

Frame measures 24" x 24" on the diagonal

Susan Loy has recast the Preamble in a striking geometric design in brown and black, and of course, red, white, and blue. The opening phrase, "We the People," is at the center of the painting surrounded by interlocking graphics representing "liberty," "justice," and "tranquility."

Signed prints from an original watercolor painting.

Print Image Size: 15-1/2" x 15-1/2"
Print Paper Size: 18" x 18-1/2"
Frame Size: 23" x 23"

It took Susan Loy more than 500 hours to complete "Article I. Congress." She lettered the 2293 words of Article I, dividing it into 102 lines forming a 12-3/4-inch square. Using color change in the letterforms, she created a glowing landscape for the backdrop of her drawing of the Capitol Building. A square border in blue and red made up of the names of the fifty states and a large circle in black and brown made up of the words, We the People, The General Welfare, Justice, and Liberty surround the words to Article I.

Signed prints from an original watercolor painting.

Print Image Size: 9-1/2" x 9-1/2"
Print Paper Size: 11" x 11-1/2"
Frame Size: 16" x 16"

Susan hand-lettered Article II over a background drawing of the White House, viewed from the North Grounds. She carried over the colors of black, brown, red, white, and blue and the themes established in "The Preamble" into this piece. "We the people," lettered in deep red Gothic capitals, looms above the White House. The text of Article II is surrounded by the names of real people who Susan met at her art shows and agreed to help her represent "We the people."

Signed prints from an original watercolor painting.

Print Image Size: 9-1/2" x 9-1/2"
Print Paper Size: 11" x 11-1/2"
Frame Size: 16" x 16"

Carrying over the colors of black, brown, red, white, and blue and the themes established in "The Preamble," Susan outlined the words, "Justice" and "We the People." She used elements from the Supreme Court Building in the design, lettering the words incised on the architrave above the west and east porticos, "Equal Justice Under Law" and "Justice the Guardian of Liberty."

View... Article 3

Signed prints from an original watercolor painting.

Print Image: 9-5/8" x 9-5/8"
Paper Size: 11" x 11-1/2"
Frame Size: 16" x 16"

Susan hand lettered the words to Articles IV through VII in watercolors that form a colorful map of the United States, surrounded by a background in shades of dark and light blue. A border in black and brown contains the names and states of the signatories of the Constitution as well as symbols of liberty and justice.

Signed prints from an original watercolor painting.

Print Image: 9-1/2" x 9-1/2"
Paper Size: 11" x 11-1/2"
Frame Size: 16" x 16"

The first ten amendments to the Constitution are known as the Bill of Rights. Susan lettered the Bill of Rights in shades of blue over a drawing of the Statue of Liberty. Words from the first amendment form a circle surrounding the Bill of Rights with words from amendments two through eight forming an inner circle, all lettered in black.

View... The Bill of Rights

Signed prints from an original watercolor painting.

Amendments 11 - 27
Print Image Size: 15-1/2" x 15-1/2"
Print Paper Size: 18" x 18-1/2"
Frame Size: 23" x 23"

Susan’s drawing of the historic Liberty Bell forms the background for the words to Amendments 11 through 27.

Signed prints from an original watercolor painting.

The Declaration of Independence
Print Image Size: 9-5/8" x 9-5/8"
Print Paper Size: 11" x 11-1/2"
Frame Size: 16" x 16"

Susan lettered the opening words in a diamond shape in blue over a drawing of Independence Hall in shades of reddish brown. The long list of grievances and signatories form a red, white, and blue border, and the title lines are black and brown.

View... The Declaration of Independence

Signed prints from an original watercolor painting.

"The Gettysburg Address, Abraham Lincoln"
Print Image Size: 9-1/2” x 9-1/2”
Print Paper Size: 11” x 11-1/2”
Frame Size: 16” x 16”

Susan Loy lettered the Gettysburg Address in red and blue. The final phrase, “that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth,” forms a circle surrounding her watercolor painting of the Lincoln Memorial and Reflecting Pool in shimmering shades of blue. The beginning lines of the Address form an intricate square border around a background inspired by details from the ceiling of the Lincoln Memorial.

View... The Gettysburg Address

Roanoke (VA) Times

Lynchburg (VA) News-Advance

Times Record-Herald of New Paltz, NY

Read Susan's blog about painting "The Preamble"

Note!  Members of the press and other interested parties should go to our Pressroom to read and download more information about Susan Loy's Constitution Project.

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