We were lucky to catch up with Susan Kuznitsky recently and have shared our conversation below.

Susan, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.

Having a good foundation is critical to becoming a successful artist. I have been blessed with great mentors starting way back when I attended the American Academy of Art in Chicago. I freelanced for several years in the Chicago area after art school doing portraits and art fairs. Then I felt it was time learn more. I was specifically interested in learning more about the pastel medium. There were very few artists teaching pastels back in the ’80’s. I ended up going to Woodstock, New York to study with master painter Albert Handell. As luck would have it he needed a studio assistant. So for two years I took on that role. It was an amazing time for me. Albert not only taught me about the pastel medium but also how to teach and run a workshop. It was an invaluable education that has stayed with me decades later.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My interest in art began when I was in high school in the suburbs of Chicago where I grew up. I was fortunate that my parents noticed my interest and enrolled me in classes at a local studio run by a well known artist who saw my passion and talent and guided me to attend the American Academy of Art in Chicago after high school. I got a very solid classical foundation in drawing and painting.

A few years after studying at American Academy I moved to Woodstock, New York, where I became the studio assistant for Master Artist Albert Handell. For the next two years Mr. Handell not only taught me about pastels and oils, but also how to teach.

Moving back to Chicago in the mid 1980’s I opened my own studio and began teaching classes and workshops.
In 1990 I moved to the Pacific Northwest and have continued teaching both on Zoom (thanks to the pandemic) and locally in Portland, Oregon. I also teach workshops nationally and internationally. I sell my artwork at a local gallery and through my web site.

Another part of my career has been portrait painting. I take a limited amount of commissions each year.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

The big pivot in my career came with the pandemic. I taught my last in-person pastel class on March 13th, 2020. Everything shut down on March 15th. It was sudden and shocking. I was asked by the Oregon Society of Artists where I was teaching weekly classes if I could teach on Zoom. I did not even know what Zoom was! But I said yes and luckily had a local artist friend who had a tech background who tutored me very quickly what equipment to get and where to plug everything. 3 1/2 years later I am still teaching on Zoom as well as back to in-person classes.

The most remarkable thing that evolved form these Zoom classes is that I have connected with artists worldwide. This in turn has led to teaching workshops internationally – last year Italy, this Provence, next year Italy and Greece! This has been the silver lining for me from the Pandemic. Very strange and wonderful pivot for me!

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

My life’s work is to leave the world more beautiful than I found it. I look for light and beauty. It is everywhere…even in the ordinary. My mission is to translate this onto canvas or paper and share it. I have been blessed to have studied with some of the greatest artists of our time. It is my joy and my responsibility to pass along what was given to me by these amazing mentors. I get a lot of satisfaction using my teaching skills to help others reach their creative goals.       

Contact Info:

• Website: www.susankuznitsky.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/susankuznitsky/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/susan.kuznitsky
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIMrQ3HWRTWhyY8gMo1Rhhw