Today we’d like to introduce you to Susan Greeley.
Hi Susan, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I am passionate about art and teaching and have had the privilege to combine both for most of my life. I grew up in Columbus Ohio and received a Bachelor in Art Education from Ohio State University. I then moved to Florida and earned a Masters in Art Education from Florida Atlantic University. As a little girl, I decided that I wanted to teach art when I grew up and my ambitions were realized in 1981 when I was hired to teach art in a small private school in Lighthouse Point. I have had the opportunity to teach K-12 Visual Art at this same school for the last 42 years (North Broward Preparatory School) and have thrived as a teacher and artist. Throughout my career, I have experimented with different media and themes to develop and pursue my own art. I frequently travel to Canada where I enjoy Plein Air watercolor painting in downtown Toronto, throughout Ontario, and New Brunswick. At home in the studio, I have expanded my work to include acrylics, oils, mixed media, and collage. For me, the natural beauty and color in the landscape is the primary focus of my work. I have found the beauty of the Florida wildlife and local landscapes continually motivates and challenges my creative work. Hopefully through my paintings the viewers will be able to experience everyday places and spaces in a new light.
I am currently a member of the Coral Springs Artist Guild, Women in the Visual Arts, Palm Beach Watercolor Society, and the National Art Education Association.
Recognition:
Coral Springs Festival of Arts Signature Artist 2018, 2019, 2022, 2023
Coral Springs Museum of Art Lobby Show 2022 2nd Place
Artistic Happenings WITVA 2017, Armory Art, W.Palm Bch. – Featured Artist
ArtServe Ft. Lauderdale 2016 Honorable Mention
Lighthouse Art Center- Art by Association 2016 Honorable Mention
Boca Raton Community Center – Art Ventures IV 1st Place
Coral Springs Museum Lobby Show 2015 2nd Place
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Teaching full-time and raising a family has not always allowed the time for the artistic exploration and development I desired! It wasn’t until my children were in college that I began to focus more on painting and decided to show my work publicly. I began with small shows in community venues such as churches, libraries, and centers where I exhibited cityscapes and landscapes created during my summer months in Canada. When I was able to devote more time and build a larger body of work, I began to apply to larger shows and outdoor festivals in Florida. Choosing relevant subject matter for the South Florida market is an ongoing challenge that has pushed me to find a balance between my love of the Canadian landscape and imagery while also creating pieces that reflect our local area.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I love to paint! The creative process is essential in my life and always provides excitement, challenge, and balance. Capturing a moment in time and the ability to show an ordinary space in an extraordinary way thrills me and hopefully translates to the viewers personal experience when they engage with my art. Through the use of vibrant color, interesting composition, and subject choices I convey the joy I feel when I get to create and share something new. My subjects always reflect my personal experience, a favorite restaurant, palms swaying in the breeze, an interesting street, or beautiful bird life. They hold a sense of memory for me and can transport the viewer to another place and time. I was recently chosen as the 2023 Signature Artist for the Coral Springs Festival of Art. The winning entry “Three O’clock on the Alley” portrays the Florida Everglades with a pine haddock in the distance, surrounded by a colorful sawgrass marsh and an afternoon storm blowing in. The painting will be featured in the CSFOA advertisements and posters, and I will have the opportunity to display and sell my artwork at the festival in March. This is my fourth win as Signature Artist for the Festival, winning in 2018 with “Everything Under the Sun,” again in 2019 with “Nature Calls” and most recently last year with “Bathed in Sunlight.”
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
I have submitted work and been recognized in many juried exhibits, but I find the most rewarding experience is meeting my patrons one on one. At local outdoor festivals, I have the opportunity to meet so many new people, talk about art, and get to see the reactions to my paintings. I love working with my audience to help them select the perfect piece or to create something entirely new for their space. It is the this interaction that fuels my creativity.
Contact Info:
- Email: suegreeleyart@gmail.com
- Facebook: Susan Greeley Art
