Susan grew up in the Pacific Northwest and has lived in Northern Alberta, Canada, and California. She has always been inspired by wildlife and the outdoors as a hiker, skier, Master Gardener, and SCUBA diver instructor. Early in her life, she expressed her artistic side in fabric art, i.e., sewing, embroidery, and knitting. She began focusing on drawing and painting when she retired from nursing.
In 2008 Susan, at her husband’s urging, was fortunate to take a weeklong workshop “Drawing & Pastel, in Plein Air” with Stanley Maltzman PSA, HFH, a renowned artist from New York. And, as the saying goes, she was hooked and never looked back! She loved the beautiful colors and the application of layers which resulted in a sparkle and depth of color. She has been able to continue her art education with many talented pastel artists, i.e., Brenda Boylan, Lorenzo Chavez, Teresa Saia, Richard McKinley, and other master painters. She paints primarily in pastel but also enjoys working in oil, gouache, and recently acrylics.
As an avid walker and bird watcher, lately, she has been focusing on birds as the subject of her art. Susan loves their “busyness and movement.”
Susan has attained signature status with both the Northwest Pastel Society and the Pastel Artists of Oregon. She has been juried into several International Shows.
Organizations:
- PAO – Pastel Artists of Oregon – Signature Member
- NPS – Northwest Pastel Society – Signature Member
- PAO – Pastel Artists of Oregon
- Past Marketing Chair
- Past Design and Layout for the newsletter, “Pastel Palette”
Shows:
- Northwest Pastel Society 2025 Signature Members Show
- Northwest Pastel Society 2024 Signature Members Show
- Spirit of Pastel 2024 International Open Juried Exhibition, Online
- Plein Air Washington Artists Little Gems 2023
- Northwest Pastel Society 2023 Members Show
- Currents Gallery “Home Show” February 2023, McMinnville, OR
- PAO Member Online Exhibition 2022
- PAO Spirit of Pastel Exhibition International Open Juried Show, 2022, Chehalem Art Center, Newberg, OR
- PAO Member’s Online Exhibition 2021, Oregon City, OR
- Pacific Northwest Pastel Society 36th International Open, American Art Company, Tacoma, WA 2022
- Pacific Northwest Pastel Society Member’s Online Show 2021
- Pacific Northwest Pastel Society 2021 Signature Member’s Show, Scott Milo Gallery, Anacortes, WA
- Spirit of Pastel 2020 International Open Juried Exhibition, Online
- Pacific Northwest Pastel Society 34th International Open, American Art Company, Tacoma, WA 2020
- Pacific Northwest Pastel Society 33rd International Open,
- American Art Company, Tacoma, WA 2019
- Jansen Art Center Winter Juried Show, Lynden, WA 2018
- Northwest Pastel Society Member Show, Kirkland, WA 2018
- Pacific Northwest Pastel Society 32nd International Open, American Art Company, Tacoma, WA 2018
- Jansen Art Center Spring Juried Show, Lynden, WA 2018
- Jansen Art Center Fall Juried Show, Lynden, WA 2017
- Pacific Northwest Pastel Society 31st International Open, American Art Company, Tacoma, WA 2016
- Jansen Art Center Spring Juried Show, Lynden, WA 2016
Awards:
- Honorable Mention, A Crowd of Koi, NPS Signature Members Show 2024
- Judges’ Choice Award 2nd Place, Best Blues, September 7, 2017, Jansen Art Center Juried Show