Susan came to our fall 2009 Art Camp for Women and was an accomplished quilter and owned a quilt pattern company before then.
Susan at Art Camp with samples of her art.
Susan Journaling
When she arrived at Art Camp Susan had just begun exploring the mixed media art arena with paper, collage and stamping. She says it was accidental brilliance on her part putting herself in Art Camp.
The immersion style at Art Camp, into mixed-media art really worked for her. The fact that the teachers were always there to not only answer questions, but to chat over dinner and discuss the ins and outs of different methods and products was invaluable.
In Susan’s opinion the interaction with the staff and other participants was as important as the classes.
Currently her regular life includes remodeling her kitchen, training a new puppy and being the best grandmother possible.
In her art she is still using the shotgun approach to find her own style and voice but feels that she is coming to the end of that particular phase. Last fall she took a class with Julie Fei-Fan Balzer in stamp carving and has become addicted to the practice. It is soothing and meditative and she ends up with authentic art to include in her larger pieces.
Susan currently has several art projects in the works. She is making samples for a fabric arts class she will teach at local fabric stores in 2012 in the Cincinnati area.
She is working on several small framed quilts to for inventory for an etsy shop. She will also be making quilt pictures to sell in her shop. We couldn’t decide if the shop itself would be a work of art, but I am assuming it will be.
When asked if Art Camp for Women had any lasting impact in her life she was a definite yes. Just in allowing herself to go [to camp] Susan made a statement to herself of her own worth. She also shouted to the world that her art was an important part of who she is as a person and that she is entitled to be that person.
Additionally she has become a person that keeps an art journal, in fact she keeps several. For example, she has begun telling stories about her family to her grandchildren and the children ask her for the stories over and over again so Susan intends to record them in her art journals.
Another benefit is that she now regularly works and plays at her art. It is no longer relegated to “when she has extra time.”
Susan with watercolor - a new medium for her
Susan, thank you for joining us at camp and for this interview.
