About
Susan puts her whole self into most everything she does. Her intention: to help make the world a better place, how and where ever she can. Rather than focusing on one area, she favors interdisciplinary approaches: chances to explore and celebrate what interests, excites, and perplexes, no boundaries. Charm, challenge, spontaneity, and hard work drive a healthy renaissance spirit—prompt painting, writing, and therapy/coaching enriched by passion, purpose, and attention to detail. The world is her palette, and its characters, landscapes, and happenings abundant sources of wonder and opportunity.
In the early 1980s, Susan left Europe for North America, an adventure that's ongoing. Her jobs have included teaching English to francophones in Québec, working in PR for the British government (Expo ’86), coordinating bilingual educational programing for Canadian television (TVOntario), giving art instruction in French (Toronto French School), consulting at several North American universities (University of Toronto, Vermont College, Union Institute), leading group therapy on a psychiatric unit (the Toronto Hospital) and creating new recreational programing at a premier US health spa (Canyon Ranch).
Susan’s PhD is in Interdisciplinary Studies (Psychology, Sociology, Arts Therapies, and Health and Health Care) with a focus on Integrating the Arts in Psychotherapy. Her research in this area provides firm foundations for careers as artist, personal coach/therapist, and author/educator—as do her world travels. In 2006, on graduating from the School of the Museum of Fine Arts (Boston), she accepted an invitation to represent Canada at the 2007 Florence Biennale, and presented a specially prepared painting installation, "Buon Appetito!" In 2008, she exhibited at two international art fairs: Toronto Art Expo in March, and the Artist Project, Chicago in April.
The Portrait Society of Canada’s show, "Canadian Olympic Athletes: A Dialogue in Art," provided an interesting sequel to Vancouver’s 2010 Olympic Winter Games' festivities. Nathalie Lambert, Chef de Mission of the Canadian team, graciously agreed to be Susan’s first Olympic portrait subject, and Alex Baumann, one of Canada’s best known Olympians and leader of the Own the Podium initiative, her second. Proceeds from both sets of portraits will go to earthquake disaster relief in Haiti.
Much of Susan's artwork adorns community organizations and charities in the Greater Boston area. Since discovering the Art Connection in 2006, Susan has contributed over 4 dozen pieces, now hanging in several dozen Greater Boston not-for-profits and/or community service organizations. A 2010 graduate of Greater Boston's Arts and Business Council’s Artist Toolbox Program and an Artaic "featured artist," Susan is also represented by Boston Art. Feb - September, 2010, she is "guest artist" in the SOWA district at Terry Levin’s Studio (415A, 450 Harrison Ave).
Though she is extremely passionate about her artwork, Susan also manages to squeeze in time for writing, personal development, doggy, foodie, and travel projects... as well as a little "social networking."
Lev and Sage Makin, Studio Assistants, Website Editors, and Co-Therapists
A proud and particular dog-mother, Susan loves all things animal, especially her Poodle pal companions, Lev and Sage, for whom she’ll do anything. Their images, stories, and involvement are integral to her work and day, whether painting, writing, or engaged with therapy/coaching.
