Today we’d like to introduce you to Susan Hanssen.
Susan, we’d love to hear your story and how you got to where you are today both personally and as an artist.
I was always interested in art and was encouraged at home to follow through with my dream.
After graduation from Syracuse University, I moved to New York and landed a job at J Walter Thompson.
Not exactly the beginnings of a fine art career but a fabulous start to 28 years as an art director in advertising.
While I was working, I was constantly taking drawing and painting classes. With a move to Fort Lauderdale
my advertising days were over, and I started painting and teaching at the Boca Raton Museum School.
I was fortunate to get a studio and got much more serious about painting with the help of my
mentor Dianne Nance.
Now having painted for about 15 years, I’ve achieved my signature membership in two organizations: American Watercolor and National Watercolor Societies.
Recently I started experimenting with acrylics and oils on canvas.
We’d love to hear more about your art. What do you do and why and what do you hope others will take away from your work?
I have always painted in a series. I find that an exciting way to create. My “sheep series” was shown at the Coral Springs Museum of Art in 2008. That series began my exploration into metaphor and cliche.
More recently I have worked on pieces I call the Napoleonic series. It is a number of paintings of women dressed in military attire used simply as a metaphor for empowerment. It was a timely series. All the women represent a rebellious attitude to the norms. However, a funny thing happened as I continued to paint. A character began to develop; I call her “Prudence,” and I saw how autobiographical each piece became. All the paintings reflect a more personal glance of an ideal childhood, unaware of the predatory realities of adulthood. A little apprehension in each piece, but still pleasing.
Overall I think my paintings are full of discovery, of interpretation that varies from one viewer to the next.
The stereotype of a starving artist scares away many potentially talented artists from pursuing art – any advice or thoughts about how to deal with the financial concerns an aspiring artist might be concerned about?
I do feel teaching is a wonderful way to get some sort of income from art.
I still teach privately and find it rewarding for both my students and myself.
I enter selective shows, always trying to stay visable to fellow artist and the public. If you’re lucky you take home a prize and possibly sell a painting.
Only recently have I been looking for a gallery…that is a job in itself.
Do you have any events or exhibitions coming up? Where would one go to see more of your work? How can people support you and your artwork?
My most recent work is on Instagram (SUSANFROSTHANSSEN) or on my webpage at SusanHanssen.com.
I also invite locals to my studio in Fort Lauderdale.
Contact Info:
- Address: 1201 Guava Isle
Fort Lauderdale, Fl 33315 - Website: susanhanssen.com
- Phone: 954 465 4117
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: susanfrosthanssen
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