Susan’s art career began after graduating from Art Center College of Design in Los Angeles.
She freelanced as an illustrator for major advertising agencies in Los Angeles, Seattle,
Chicago, and New York. Ultimately, she left that world to focus on creating oil paintings
and paper mache sculpture.

Susan’s sculpture showcases the versatility of paper mache. Inspired by the decades old
papier mâché recipes that produced utilitarian household items, elegant furniture, and
elaborate architectural ornaments, Susan uses the common ingredients of pulped paper,
Elmer’s glue, plaster of Paris, and joint compound to create sculptural
pieces that are anything but common.

I use paper mache (paper pulp+plaster) and recycled materials to create sculpture
that is elegant, whimsical, and durable. Paper mache allows me to create work in a
variety of styles, reflecting my love of indigenous and folk art,
ceramics, and trompe l'oeil sculpture.

My oil paintings are influenced by my early career as a freelance illustrator. Then, my
job was to create illustrations that brought warmth and charm to often dry,
yet informative, advertising copy. These days, I create paintings for the delight
of the viewer and for myself. My paintings tell stories of a colorful, orderly
world that brings peace to the heart.

Susan lives in Guerneville with her college sweetheart Mike who is also an artist, and their
dog Edward. Her work is currently represented by the Oli Gallery in Guerneville CA.