Susan Payne
Susan Payne grew up in a south Seattle family with a great love of the outdoors (camping, hiking, fishing etc) was drawing and painting from a young age. She majored in Architecture and worked in that career, later cutting back to part time and more painting. As part of architecture school (BA and M.Arch) she learned perspective drawing and design skills, and took night classes in painting, including while she lived in New York City (1983-93). In more recent years she took painting and drawing classes at Gage Academy in Seattle and has been active in "Urban Sketchers" groups as well as Plein Air Washington Artists, with meetups all over the state to paint nature from life. In the past year she has been leading art activities at Care Units through the nonprofit, "Seniors Creating Art", plus occasional pet portrait workshops for "Paws with Cause."
An active horsewoman for years, Susan has painted 'live' at horse shows as well. She has won a few awards for her paintings of horses and for plein air landscapes.
Susan enjoys watercolor in particular for outdoor art because of its lightweight portability and easy cleanup, as well as for the radiant qualities that can be achieved. But she also enjoys working in oils or acrylics and has at times done larger works on canvas. Because she paints often outdoors at horse shows and group meetups, she is used to sharing her art skills and interests with others, young and old. She encourages art as a daily or near-daily practice for its meditative benefits and enjoyment of nature.
