Gallery

Susan lives in the west Michigan area with her husband, George and son Paul. Originally from Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota, Susan has been painting professionally since 1990. She has enjoyed a steady rise in popularity with the majority of her limited edition prints selling out within the first two years of their release.

Susan’s style of painting is a combination of two seemingly different qualities. Her attention to intricate details provides the viewer with an array of defined focal points, yet each painting is painted in an approachable setting evoking an emotionally peaceful feeling.

Susan’s work can be found in fine galleries and private collections throughout the United States.

I am an abstract painter whose interest and inspiration lie in the process of the pictures I create. Often, I paint with a particular living space in mind and choose colors and design elements to fit the space and décor, regardless of whether the space actually exists or is purely imaginary.

I paint on wood panels. The rigidity of the wood surface allows me to aggressively scrape and sand the work as I build or deconstruct layers of paint or plaster, depending on the painting. At times the natural wood grain becomes part of the work. Texture and vivid color are hallmarks of my paintings, and I am constantly experimenting with various combinations of paint, plaster, and polyurethane finishes.

I often incorporate the technique of stenciling into my work – using shapes cut from cardboard or lace-type fabric. In many of my paintings I use flexible mesh material, which I paint through and upon, to produce texture, depth, and additional layers of interest. I also work with construction plaster, mixing it with various paints and polyurethane finishes for added texture and complexity. And at times, ash material is also used to add texture.

I enjoy creating larger scale, multi-panel paintings which are ideal for corporate / commercial settings and homes with large walls and open areas. Aside from residential installations, my paintings can also be found in a variety of businesses in the Iowa-Nebraska-South Dakota tri-state region – ranging from hospitals; law, architect and realty offices; a chain of jewelry stores; a hospital; and colleges. Over the years I have completed a number of commissioned paintings, specifically created to complement existing décor. I also design custom portrait collages which combine original paintings and Xerox images.