Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Suzan Globus. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Suzan, appreciate you joining us today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

When I was five years old, my oldest sister started publishing a newspaper which we sold to the neighbors. She printed it with some of the neighborhood kids in the carport on what must have been a mimeograph machine. My job was to distribute it from my wagon. I idolized my sister and decided writing was what I wanted to do when I grew up.
I started writing poetry in the third grade but I was too shy to show it to anyone, so I wedged the poems in the woodpile in the back yard thinking my secret was safe there.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My path to my art practice was not straight, but each step is related to the next. After graduating with a degree in Journalism and Business, I found I had reached a life-long goal of becoming a newspaper editor at age 26. I decided I should write a book because it was the only medium I hadn’t written for by that time. I quickly realized I had no depth of knowledge in anything but writing and I didn’t want to write about writing. I was interested in the environment and design so I pursued a Post-Baccalaureate in Fine Arts with an interior design concentration. I worked during the day and took one course each semester at night while raising my daughter. Eight years later, my fine arts education was complete. With the words of one of my professors ringing in my ears, “Don’t ever stop painting; you’re gifted.”, I entered the design workforce out of necessity and three years later started my own company, specializing in the interior design of public and museum libraries. It was a great fit for me because loving libraries is an occupational hazard for writers. I also was drawn to the challenge of designing multi-use space for people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities. As the field of knowledge grew about the impact the materials we live with has on our health and the environment, I pursued further studies about the environment and sustainability and earned credentials in the field. I was invited to write and teach a course about sustainability by my alma mater. Simultaneously, while rising to a position of national leadership in my professional design organization, I was given extensive training in strategic planning. I became recognized as a strategic planning facilitator and was hired by a Denver consulting firm to deliver strategic planning services to architecture and design firms and colleges. These endeavors, extraneous to running my design business, left little time for art. I realized my employees were more than capable of running my design business in my absence, so I started stepping back from business to take time for my art. I knew that’s where I wanted to be if I could. Eventually, I closed my business to devote full time to my art work.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

Some people I’ve talked to seem puzzled by my creative path. They are perplexed that I reached a level of success in a particular field and took another direction. Most people don’t understand how difficult it is for an artist to support themselves and family members from their art alone. Most artists have other work to take care of life necessities. I feel so fortunate that I have been able to earn a living pursuing creative endeavors. Writing, planning and designing are all part of making art. For me, teaching, learning, mentoring, dancing, living in harmony and helping others are components of an artful existence.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

I called my father in another state one day to tell him I quit my job with an office furniture company to start my own design business. I was newly divorced, the sole support of a minor child, had no savings and had just secured some temporary housing for us. My father was incredulous. “What if it fails?”, he asked. I replied simply, “It can’t.”

I don’t know if that is resilience or determination, but I have relied on my instinct and tenacity to pursue what I want in life.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.suzanglobus
• Instagram: @suzan.globus

Image Credits

Photography by @srsphotography