Suzan Waldinger

Suzan Waldinger grew up in the Bay Ridge section of Brooklyn, New York with her five siblings, in a small apartment close to the Verrazano Bridge, playing stickball in the streets and eating the best pizza money could buy. Being in a large family of eight, with very little money, learning how to make something from nothing was both a natural progression, and necessary for Suzan’s instinctual skill at crafting. She has fond memories of a life full of creativity; decorating shop windows around Halloween, sewing her own clothes, knitting, crafting costumes, baking and decorating cakes, and spending endless hours drawing with her sisters in their kitchen. Every year she would wait with anticipation for December to arrive, when she and her siblings would paint the windows of her 3^rd floor apartment with images of the winter holidays. From the street below, everyone could see, and it was this early in life Suzan saw the joy of art come full circle as it brought smiles to unfamiliar faces.   Suzan continues to live a creative life, forever exploring the unlimited potential of the imagination, expressively conveying images and ideas in artistic ways and mediums.  Her professional artistic career began in the early 1990’s when she worked as a computer illustrator, just around the time CorelDRAW made its debut. After moving around the country for several years and dabbling in many art mediums, from mosaic tile to painted furniture, Suzan finally settled in South Salem, NY in 2000 where she started managing her own art-based business. It began with the sale of original paintings. She has exhibited and sold paintings in solo and group exhibitions, fine art shows, galleries, and online. Her work has been sold to collectors close to home and as far away as Hong Kong.   Mostly a self-taught artist, Suzan learned much from her mother, a Norwegian immigrant and second-generation fine artist.  Suzan relies on unconventional methods when creating her paintings, rarely sketching an image before brush meets canvas.  Acrylic paints are never thinned, creating bold, vivid, brush strokes of color.  This impasto technique provides texture as paint pops off the canvas, creating works of art that, are not only visually alluring, but also appeal to ones sense of touch. Free from the restraints of one particular style, Suzan’s unique approach fosters the uninhibited evolution of her creative flow.  Suzan tries to inject happiness into her paintings, drawing from within--a place where she is always free.  Hoping to connect with the most fundamental parts of who we are, she finds inspiration in the playful innocence of life.   Suzan Waldinger has also created a great number of art-based products such as cosmetic bags, mugs, scarves, playing cards, laptop case, and other fine gift merchandise.  Her work has been licensed and featured on prints and paper goods, t-shirts, best selling doormats and cell phone cases.  Four of her "Think Peace" paintings have been featured and sold as prints on QVC.   In 2010, Suzan travelled to Haiti to work on “Hope for the Hands of Haiti,” an art-inspired coffee table book, to raise money for education. The 47 life-sized replicas of children’s hands, uniquely and colorfully painted, depict the essence of a country through the innocence of a child.   Also containing factual information, this book brings a country torn to pieces into a more positive light. Suzan’s technique of painting hands helps connect people, creates empathy, and reminds us that deep down we are all the same. She self-published the book and was able to raise enough money to send 16 kids to school for one year.   Suzan is also an active, committed volunteer for FUTURE 5, a Stamford non-profit, community-based organization, dedicated to helping low-income teens forge a brighter future.