Meet The Artist: Susan Snow
"I grew up in Marin County, California with a passion for drawing. When I was just 5 years old, my Mom would have me look at something, close my eyes, visualize it, then draw from recall. I suppose this made me very detail oriented! My engineer Father taught me how to draw everything. My parents were supportive and encouraging. While I studied both flamenco guitar and opera, it was graphic art that I was most interested in and, in fact, studied it at the Art Institute of Houston.
I've done illustration, layout, design and airbrush professionally. I have worked with a prominent decorator on various projects such as restaurant murals, paintings and faux marquetry of the banquet floor of a major downtown San Francisco hotel.
When I began painting it was in acrylics, then one day a friend quit his art classes, gave me all of his oil paints, and I fell in love with them, often using my fingers as much as my brushes to paint! I also enjoy using pencil, conte crayon, and graphite.
I have always enjoyed drawing people and faces more than anything else and they have always been the easiest subject for me as well. I've often been commissioned for portraits, of both people and pets, which I adore. More recently I have become even more interested in still life, and all scenes of nature, landscapes, sunsets - everything. Note my January cover! If you would like to contact me, my email is gigiwhillikers@yahoo.com.
My style is realism. I am in awe of several contemporary classical painters and the old masters, of course. I continually strive to improve my skills and hope to pursue the study of classical realism, eventually being able to teach this.
I did the cover of The Caribbean Writer a couple years back and I was in a group show at Walsh Metal Works 2 years ago. I've shown at Danica Gallery and The Caribbean Museum Center for the Arts contributing to their annual Island Art and Soul calendar several times. Since 2002, I have participated in The Good Hope School's Annual Caribbean Fine Art Exhibit.
I have found St. Croix profoundly inspirational over the years - the beautiful and wonderful Crucian people as well as the stupendous beauty that God has blessed this island with.
When I can, I do handwriting analysis. Its also been a big passion for me and I did study it for a while. Why? People are fascinating and their handwriting tells everything about their personality and character."
Susan will be one of five participating artists in "Children of the Caribbean," an exhibit at the Caribbean Museum Center for the Arts in Frederiksted with an opening reception Friday, December 16, 5-8:00 pm and in January, she will have her first solo show at Bassin Fine Art in Christiansted with an opening reception on Art Thursday, January 19, 5-8pm.
For more information, call the Museum Center, 340-772-2622 or Bassin Fine Art, 340-201-1831.
