About artist, Susan Ashbrook
Susan began her life as an artist in Grade One, when her artwork received gold stars and was exhibited on the classroom bulletin board.
After high school Susan studied oil painting at Mount Allison University in New Brunswick and graduated as a commercial artist from Algonquin College in Ottawa. She went on to work in the fields of advertising, publishing, trade exhibits and designing and building parade floats.
In the early 1990’s Susan was travelling a lot and needed a faster drying medium, so she switched from oils to acrylics. At first she hated the way the acrylics handled and the intensity of the colours. Fortunately she found that by starting with a grisaille underpainting and applying colour in thin glazes she gained complete control of colour mixing and intensity. She worked in an ultra-realism style and particularly enjoyed painting nautical and garden themes.
She exhibited her work, winning prizes and awards, the most notable of which were placing as a finalist in The Artist’s Magazine’s annual international competition, and receiving an honourable mention in the International Artist magazine competition. Susan’s work was featured in the book “How Did You Paint That: 100 Ways to Paint Flowers and Gardens”, and International Artist magazine published her article on marketing one’s self as an artist.
With the evolution of new acrylic paints and mediums Susan found her interests changing. She became fascinated with textures, mixed media and other painting techniques creating unlimited potential. Currently she is producing abstract and semi-abstract works inspired by natural elements and, of all things, the construction industry!
Susan loves sharing her knowledge with those who want to learn. She teaches oil painting, a variety of acrylic painting classes and techniques, mixed media, soft pastels, journalling, colour mixing, developing your artistic eye and crafting programs such as decorating silk scarves and creating holiday ornaments.
Over the years she has taught with the City of Ottawa; the Ottawa Carleton District School Board; the Ottawa Catholic School Board; the Visual Arts Centre Orleans; the Frederic Remington Art Museum in Ogdensburg NY; NECTAR (formally the Crichton Cultural Community Centre); and at her studio in the Village of Cumberland, in Ottawa.
Susan also teaches with more specialized organizations such as The Royal, Ottawa's mental health facility; a number of retirement residences and senior care homes in the Eastern Ontario region, and through contracts with organizations that support other special need groups.
"People take art programs for many different reasons, but it is my goal that they all enjoy it and learn something from it, no matter what their skill level is. In my classes everyone is welcome! No one is ever a burden and everyone creates art to be proud of." ~ Susan Ashbrook
After high school Susan studied oil painting at Mount Allison University in New Brunswick and graduated as a commercial artist from Algonquin College in Ottawa. She went on to work in the fields of advertising, publishing, trade exhibits and designing and building parade floats.
In the early 1990’s Susan was travelling a lot and needed a faster drying medium, so she switched from oils to acrylics. At first she hated the way the acrylics handled and the intensity of the colours. Fortunately she found that by starting with a grisaille underpainting and applying colour in thin glazes she gained complete control of colour mixing and intensity. She worked in an ultra-realism style and particularly enjoyed painting nautical and garden themes.
She exhibited her work, winning prizes and awards, the most notable of which were placing as a finalist in The Artist’s Magazine’s annual international competition, and receiving an honourable mention in the International Artist magazine competition. Susan’s work was featured in the book “How Did You Paint That: 100 Ways to Paint Flowers and Gardens”, and International Artist magazine published her article on marketing one’s self as an artist.
With the evolution of new acrylic paints and mediums Susan found her interests changing. She became fascinated with textures, mixed media and other painting techniques creating unlimited potential. Currently she is producing abstract and semi-abstract works inspired by natural elements and, of all things, the construction industry!
Susan loves sharing her knowledge with those who want to learn. She teaches oil painting, a variety of acrylic painting classes and techniques, mixed media, soft pastels, journalling, colour mixing, developing your artistic eye and crafting programs such as decorating silk scarves and creating holiday ornaments.
Over the years she has taught with the City of Ottawa; the Ottawa Carleton District School Board; the Ottawa Catholic School Board; the Visual Arts Centre Orleans; the Frederic Remington Art Museum in Ogdensburg NY; NECTAR (formally the Crichton Cultural Community Centre); and at her studio in the Village of Cumberland, in Ottawa.
Susan also teaches with more specialized organizations such as The Royal, Ottawa's mental health facility; a number of retirement residences and senior care homes in the Eastern Ontario region, and through contracts with organizations that support other special need groups.
"People take art programs for many different reasons, but it is my goal that they all enjoy it and learn something from it, no matter what their skill level is. In my classes everyone is welcome! No one is ever a burden and everyone creates art to be proud of." ~ Susan Ashbrook