Venus flytrap on parade

About Susan

Susan was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, where she grew up spending family vacations camping and exploring the western half of the United States. This inspired her love for the beauty of nature and the outdoors, which would greatly influence her art. 

As a young girl, her grandfather went blind, and she began making heavily textured artwork so he could use his sense of touch to see what she created. Years later, when Susan was painting murals and looking for more dimension, she developed her own medium and has used this self-created art form for over 20 years. 

Susan's process of creating textured paintings and encaustics begins by working with her photos and sketchbook. Once she finalizes the design for the painting, she starts by layering the textured medium on a premade art board with an artist’s trowel or spatula, often creating many layers to achieve her desired background texture. Susan then adds detail to the background with layers of hand-sculpted elements, followed by an overlay process of her own oil glazes and many layers of oils, varnishes, and hot wax encaustics. Once this layering process has achieved the desired depth, she finishes each painting with intricate oil details. The evolution of this creative process has helped Susan further develop her artistic style while fulfilling her love of working with heavy textures.

Inspiration for Statue

My inspiration for painting the Venus flytrap stemmed from a desire to capture the essence of its existence within the enchanting landscape of the bog. I envisioned the delicate dance of a tiny fly, flitting about in curiosity, drawn to the vibrant colors of the plant. Meanwhile, in the hush of twilight, a curious fox would quietly approach, finding rest beside the luminous leaves, creating a serene tableau where nature's beauty and intrigue intertwine. Imagine a mesmerizing mermaid, drawn from the depths of the ocean, curious to explore the wonders of this captivating plant. 

With shimmering scales glistening in the sunlight, she emerges from the sea, eager to unravel the mysteries that lie within this enchanting flora.

Sponsored by: The Town of Carolina Beach, New Hanover Art Council, NC Art Council

https://susannuttall.com/