People wonder what inspires someone to become an artist. Considered a “creative colorist,” Susan Hess’ work immediately reveals her passion for color. Her bold use of vibrant colors and fluid strokes creates energy in each painting.
Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Susan became fascinated with colors at the age of nine when she created her own colors by melting together the crayons from “the big box” of Crayolas. She attended Marywood College and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Fine Art and Interior Design.
Working for 25 years as an interior designer, she continued her fascination with color through her use of paint and fabrics. She developed her artistic skills as she studied with national and international artists.
A resident of St. Petersburg, Florida, for over 30 years, she creates interpretive impressions of people, places, and nature. Her experimentation with acrylic, watercolor, and collage led to a fascination with encaustic wax painting. Her new encaustic work combines the spontaneity of color, the texture of acrylics, and the flow of watercolors. She has married her two loves.
Her work has been included in and awarded at numerous regional and national exhibitions. She is a signature member of the Florida Watercolor Society and a member of the International Encaustic Artists and Florida Wax.
“My artistic journey is always full of surprising challenges and my goal is to convey that excitement through color, design, and texture.”
Susan Hess
