Portrait artist Susan Arnold paints portraits – treasured remembrances – that capture moments in time. www.susanarnoldartist.com
Artist Profile
Capturing Character
Susan Arnold paints portraits that capture the essence of the moment.
BY
Irene Steffens
PHOTOGRAPHY
Colin Miller/Strauss Peyton

"The images I paint have to touch me in some way."

Susan Arnold has been drawing as long as she can remember. Susan's parents supplied the art books, encyclopedias, and pencils – Leonardo da Vinci and the masters provided the inspiration. Fascinated by their work, she says, "Most people learn to draw imitating the masters." Copying technique, Susan adapted her own style. Meeting fellow artists and viewing artistic styles in art publications has contributed to the growth, change and evolution of her artistic interest and skill. Susan draws inspiration from early 20th-century Spanish painter Joaquin Sorolla whom she aspires to emulate, and appreciates American impressionist Dan McCaw for his interpretation and use of light in his painting.

Over the years, Susan has painted portraits of her children, family members, and scenes from photographs. Portraits and landscapes fill the walls of her home. Today she paints portraits on commission, while her earliest work came from friends who were impressed with her talents and spread the word about her lifelike portraits – each reflecting individual personality and character. Susan takes satisfaction in producing something that will someday become a family heirloom.

She is an accomplished realist and member of the Portrait Society of America. Her primary artistic interest is people, both figures and portraits. She admires the impressionistic style of luminism, the art of painting the perceived effects of light on the artist's subjects, and when asked how this affects her own painting, she replies, "I admire the painting of light, where the faces are mere sketchy images, features made only with color changes and loose outlines. Getting a good likeness to the subject is very important." Susan's use of color on the canvas brings forth light from her portraits. For Susan, drawing and painting are like writing with color, lines, tone and composition. She says, "The images I paint have to touch me in some way." Susan's technique captures the essence of the moment, allowing her portraits to tell their story.