"My first interest is in being – along the way I am a painter." – Morris Graves
In 2002 after ending a 21 year career as lead designer for a San Francisco Bay Area company, Mrs Grossman’s, I uncovered a new voice as a painter. Predominantly self-taught, with no formal training as a designer or as a painter, the works, acrylic paint on paper and recent works on Tyvek, are a result of an intuitive way of painting. It is a way to use painting to listen to the deeper self. This practice is life long.
PLACE
The rural Humboldt North Coast of California is my home. The land, waters and light here is an endless transmission of beauty, quietude, and teachings that shapes and sustains my work.
If you want to hear the voice of your soul
take lessons from the moon.
She knows the light
and the dark.
Although mostly self-taught, my root teacher is Nature. For me Nature is the mother of all teachers–teachings being everywhere at every moment. Recently it was the light on water, the gibbous moon, the bathroom spider, the smell of first rain, paper in the wind. I have a note in my studio that says ‘get out of the way.’ It’s a reminder to not get stuck on a concept, but to allow what is arising, its freshness and honesty, its voice. This instruction I received one day at the marsh and is one of the most useful teachings.
STUDIO
Susanna in her studio working on the painting “No beginning, No end”
Résumé
2011-current: small business owner, Keeping Vigil Press
2002-current: Painter, writer
1992-2003: Graphics designer, various non-profits
1979-2000: Designer, Mrs Grossman’s Paper Co, Petaluma, CA
Showings
2023:
•Morris Graves Museum of Art, Humboldt Arts Council Juried Member show
2022:
•Ingrid Nickelsen Trust Juried Show, Humboldt Arts Council, Eureka, CA
•Morris Graves Museum of Art, Humboldt Arts Council Juried Member show
2021, 2022, 2023:
•Arcata Public Library, Arcata, CA
2020:
•Morris Graves Museum of Art, Humboldt Arts Council, Eureka, CA, Grant award winners:“Art in Place”
2019:
• The Garden Gate, Arcata, CA
• The Arcata-Eureka Airport, McKinleyville, CA 2019-2020
• Piante Gallery, Eureka, CA
2018:
• Wholistic Heartbeat, McKinleyville, CA
2016-2020:
Isis Osiris Healing Center, Sunnybrae, CA
2014:
Mercy Hospital, Heart Exhibition, Roseberg, OR
Plaza, Arcata, CA
Sewell Gallery, Eureka, CA
Commonweal Institute for Art and Healing, Bolinas, CA
Humboldt Arts Council, juried show, Morris Graves Museum, Eureka, CA
2013:
Ren Brown Collection Gallery, Bodega Bay, CA
Sewell Gallery, Eureka, CA
2012:
Piante Gallery, solo show, Eureka CA
Robert Goodman Winery, Arcata, CA
Sewell Gallery, Eureka, CA
2011:
Humboldt Arts Council, juried show, Morris Graves Museum, Eureka CA
“Chairity” Invitational, Eureka, CA, group show
2010:
The Garden Gate, Arcata CA, solo show
Accident Gallery, Eureka CA, group show
2009:
RAA juried show, Morris Graves Museum, Eureka CA
2008:
Piante Gallery, Eureka CA, solo show
Redwood Art Association, Eureka CA, group show
Hospice Invitational Art Show, “Into the Mystery”, Westhaven Center
for the Arts, Westhaven CA, group show
Humboldt Arts Council, juried show, Morris Graves Museum, Eureka CA
Spiritual Dimension of Art Tour/ Artist Participant
2007:
Meridian Fine Art Gallery, Arcata, CA, group show
2006:
Plaza Design, Arcata, CA, solo show
2005:
Accident Gallery, Eureka, CA, solo show
Grants/Recognition/Publication
•2020: Humboldt Arts Council Art in Place grant recipient
• 2019: Morris Graves Foundation, Artist Residency Retreat Recipient
• 2019: Cover for RetailingInsight Magazine
• 2018: Wholistic Heartbeat Publication, Cover Art, McKinleyville, CA
2015: Crucial Point Journal, Spring 2015, Crestone, CO
2014: Healing Arts Guide, Cover art, Isis Scroll Publisher, Arcata, CA
2012: Morris Graves Foundation, Artist Residency Retreat Recipient
2009: BuddhaDharma Quarterly, Winter 2009, Shambhala Sun Publisher, Halifax, Canada
2008: Ingrid Nickelsen Trust Grant to Women Artists
Morris Graves Foundation, Artist Residency Retreat Recipient