Susan has been immersed in her surrounding environment since she was a small girl in Minnesota. Growing up as an "independent" only child, she has loved her singular time to explore, think, and read about many aspects of life. She has been an ink painter for over 50 years, using the traditional philosophy and materials of Ink, Paper & Brush.
Inspiration arrived in the 90s when Susan began working in the Printmaking Center at the College of Santa Fe, New Mexico. The Printmaking Center was a premier non-toxic studio which sadly is no longer operating. After several study sessions with master printers, Susan began working alone at the electric press with its 84 inch press bed and its sensitive, (she likens it to an Elephant's whisker), roller pressure adjustments. "It was an addiction."
Using her long time collection of gathered plant materials, she printed their images and shadows by placing them directly on the inked plate and printing on one of a selection of archival papers. Many images of the work Susan created during this time is viewable on her Fine Art Website. Beginning in 2021 Susan experimented with her original paper paintings and materials from her collections of dried plants and flowers, to create 3d collagés.
Susan's WildCrane Studio, created over 40 years ago, is delighted to present unique and luxurious Art Cards using her original artwork and images emerging from her new collagés.
Susan has traveled 49 of our 50 States and lived in a number of them.
Longer visits encompass PR China for Study. The USVI for an Environmental Living Project.
Shorter visits include England, Scotland, Hong Kong, Japan, Martinique, Aruba, St. Thomas, Hawaii, Northwest Coast, Vancouver Island, Vancouver, Alert Bay, San Juan Islands, Bahamas.
Susan visited gardens and botanical collections when available in each of her traveled stops.
Originally from Minneapolis, Minnesota, she her family built a cabin on Lake Mille Lacs. During her painting career she taught for a number of years on the shores of Lake Superior.
Susan visited a friend in New Mexico in the mid 80's and a love affair began. First, Dixon became home. Later, she purchased a home in Angel Fire, a remote community north of Taos. She lived and worked at 8500' in those remote meadows and mountains for over seven years culminating in her stunning Aspen Exhibition at Hand Artes Gallery in Truchas.
But the Wandering Crane still things to see and places to go!
Susan lived in Washington State primarily on an historic wooden sailboat on Bainbridge Island, in the 90s, with a gorgeous, flower filled, community garden down the dock. As usual, travels around the state were NW Coast explorations. Her studio was located in a satisfyingly primitive warehouse in Lowertown Seattle. This location offered her the inspiration and the environment she needed, no heat in a cold, moist climate, to work on her Copper Series and her major 20 foot x 21 inch scroll paintings.
Family in Montana, Bozeman, Bridger Canyon, Ennis and Virginia City offered her unique opportunities to travel the state. Her relationship with Montana had began in the early 70's. In order to work on several solo exhibitions she created another primitive painting studio in Virginia City. Susan loved her large garage bay overlooking the Ruby Mountains with a screen door and tables on saw horses.
New Mexico ultimately has had her heart. Susan currently lives with her husband, Bill Brown, Buddy and Emma the pups and TuTu the cat in Truth or Consequences, New Mexico. And true to form, her studio is free of creature comforts with a large garage door looking out on her towering Mesquite trees over the low southern NM mountains.
Longer visits encompass PR China for Study. The USVI for an Environmental Living Project.
Shorter visits include England, Scotland, Hong Kong, Japan, Martinique, Aruba, St. Thomas, Hawaii, Northwest Coast, Vancouver Island, Vancouver, Alert Bay, San Juan Islands, Bahamas.
Susan visited gardens and botanical collections when available in each of her traveled stops.
Originally from Minneapolis, Minnesota, she her family built a cabin on Lake Mille Lacs. During her painting career she taught for a number of years on the shores of Lake Superior.
Susan visited a friend in New Mexico in the mid 80's and a love affair began. First, Dixon became home. Later, she purchased a home in Angel Fire, a remote community north of Taos. She lived and worked at 8500' in those remote meadows and mountains for over seven years culminating in her stunning Aspen Exhibition at Hand Artes Gallery in Truchas.
But the Wandering Crane still things to see and places to go!
Susan lived in Washington State primarily on an historic wooden sailboat on Bainbridge Island, in the 90s, with a gorgeous, flower filled, community garden down the dock. As usual, travels around the state were NW Coast explorations. Her studio was located in a satisfyingly primitive warehouse in Lowertown Seattle. This location offered her the inspiration and the environment she needed, no heat in a cold, moist climate, to work on her Copper Series and her major 20 foot x 21 inch scroll paintings.
Family in Montana, Bozeman, Bridger Canyon, Ennis and Virginia City offered her unique opportunities to travel the state. Her relationship with Montana had began in the early 70's. In order to work on several solo exhibitions she created another primitive painting studio in Virginia City. Susan loved her large garage bay overlooking the Ruby Mountains with a screen door and tables on saw horses.
New Mexico ultimately has had her heart. Susan currently lives with her husband, Bill Brown, Buddy and Emma the pups and TuTu the cat in Truth or Consequences, New Mexico. And true to form, her studio is free of creature comforts with a large garage door looking out on her towering Mesquite trees over the low southern NM mountains.