About Artist

 
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Susan is primarily a portrait and landscape artist. She works in pastel as well as in oil and has received awards in both mediums.  An Arkansas resident for most of her life, she grew up in Findlay, Ohio. In the early years, she honed her skills by sketching portraits of people who live at festivals.  This discipline proved invaluable in her ability to capture the likeness of a model.   Along the way, she found she also enjoyed painting outdoors “plein air” in the manner of the Impressionists. The two subjects became her lifelong passion--painting people and places.

Hurst Gallery was established in 2003 and was located on Kavanaugh Boulevard in Little Rock.  The Gallery highlighted notable local artists as well as Susan’s portraits and paintings.  In 2008 she closed the Gallery to devote full time to painting in her home studio.

Seeking out nationally known instructors for these two passions have included Vena McAnnich, Guido Frick, Bruce Peil, Richard McKinley, and Albert Handell.  A workshop with Daniel Greene at his beloved Studio Hill Farm in North Salem, New York was significant in her studies.

Awards

 

  • 3rd Place Open Division International Association Pastel Societies 2024

  • International Association Pastel Societies Online Exhibit 2024

  • 2nd Place Arkansas League of Artists 2024

  • International Association Pastel Societies Online Exhibit 2023

  • Mid America Pastel Societies Members Show 2023

  • Best of Show Winners Show Arkansas League of Artists 2022

  • Arkansas Pastel Society Members Show 2021

  • Mid America Pastel Society Members Show 2021

  • 3rd place Arkansas Pastel Society National Show 2020

  • Pastel Society Online Exhibit 2018

  • Best of Show Arkansas Pastel Society Members Only Show 2017

  • Best of Show Arkansas League of Artists Members Only Show 2017

  • Best of Show White River Plein Air Festival 2016

  • Best of Arkansas-Arkansas Pastel Society National Show 2016

  • Second Place White River Plein Air Festival 2015

 

Noteworthy Commissions

 

  • Heart Hospital, Little Rock, Arkansas

  • UAMS School of Nursing, Little Rock, Arkansas

  • Walsh University, North Canton, Ohio

  • VFW Lodge, El Dorado, Arkansas

  • Alzheimer’s Association, Little Rock, Arkansas

  • Numerous Portraits and Paintings in Private Collections

 

Affiliations

 

  • Signature Member of the Arkansas Pastel Society

  • Signature Member of the Arkansas League of Artists.

  • Art Instructor for LifeQuest of Arkansas

  • Art Instructor for Mini-Workshops, Arkansas Pastel Society

  • Private Instruction/Portraits and Landscapes