Blue Jeans & Rubber Boots

I recently watched an interview of a friend and fellow artist that I admire. I noticed that he referred to himself as a ‘Practicing Artist.” I asked him why he didn’t use the term International or professional artist? As someone who has worked in the trade for many years and often has a sell-out opening night, I would call him a professional artist.

His answer was “I was never really...

I had never heard of a vision board until I took a class with Ruth Payne at Hollyhock on lovely Quadra Island BC. The class I was taking was called the business of art.

One of the assignments was to make a vision board. Ruth dropped some magazines on the floor and we were to take images that we liked, use text, whatever and create a vision board. The question was where would we like to see our...

Did you know that I was the first female ever in Canada to be trained on a Heidelberg Printing Press?

In the late 80’s I was living in Toronto. I owned and operated an Arts company. We designed and printed marketing material for artists; gallery invitations, posters, business and rack cards...you name it we could make it.

I wanted to become versed in every aspect of the print industry. I...

I've often been asked why I like working in a series. Here is my not too short answer.

I find that one of the biggest challenges for me, as an artist, is going through my photos and deciding on a subject to paint next. I have often spent hours (not kidding) doing this, only to change my mind the next morning. What a waste of time!! I have several folders on my desktop that say “Things to...

Are you being exposed or do you expose yourself?

On one of our trips to Mexico, we were invited by our Mexican friend, Alex, to an art show in a neighbouring town. As we piled into his dusty old jeep he told us his friend, and I quote “was exposing himself for the first time.” What!! We all burst out in laughter. Then he asked me “Susan, do you ever expose yourself!” I cheekily...