EDUCATION:
Award winning artist Susanne St. John is a 1980 Graduate of Edith Niblo School of Art in Denver, Colorado. Undergraduate work completed at the University of Colorado, University of Denver and the University of Hawaii. Formal art training began at the age of 14. Additional art instruction acquired with Chen Chi, Charles Reid, Mario Cooper, Ed Whitney, Lee Weiss, Robert E. Wood, Betty DeMaree and Virginia Cobb.
EXHIBITIONS:
Extensive one-person, two-person, group shows, and invitational exhibitions. Her work was on tour with the National Watercolor Society for a two- year traveling show. Numerous awards including Best of Show at the National Penwomen’s 1990 exhibition and Kona Artists Guild in 1992. Susanne St.John’s paintings have been shown continuously in the Hawaiian Islands since 1974.
GALLERY AFFILIATIONS:
Mauna Kea Beach Hotel Gallery, Kohala Coast, Island of Hawaii. Volcano Art Center, Volcano National Park, Island of Hawaii. Parker Gallery, Waimea, Island of Hawaii, Art Works Gallery, Palm Desert, Ca. Other gallery affiliations include The Backdoor Gallery and Aqua Classics Gallery in Laguna Beach, Ca., Lighthouse Art Center in Crescent City, Ca. Wailea Art Gallery in Wailea, Maui, Village Gallery, Maui, Koko Head Art Gallery Oahu, Hi, Carlson-Alexander Gallery in Denver, Co and many others.
TEACHING:
One-day, two-day, and week-long workshops in numerous areas including Hawaii, California, Arkansas and Hawaii. Susanne St. John taught week-long workshops for five years in Crescent City, Ca. She taught in Dana Point through the County of Orange as well as having taught in the Denver Public School System and in Tuluksak Public School in Tuluksak, Alaska.
PROFESSIONAL GROUP AFFILIATIONS:
Signature member of the National Watercolor Society since 1978 at which time her entry was juried into the traveling show, which toured the continental United States for one year. Susanne St.John served on the Board of Directors for the National Watercolor Society as Treasurer for three years. Susanne St. John holds membership in local art associations in the area that she lives.
SPECIFIC EVENTS:
May 1986 – Invited to exhibit in the Edith Niblo Memorial held in Denver, Colorado
April 1987 – Invited to Lecture at the Laguna Beach Museum of Art, California
Sept. 1987 – Invited to exhibit at the Fall Festival of the Arts in Laguna Beach, California
Oct. 1989 – Work on exhibit with the National Watercolor Society 69th Annual exhibition.
Nov. 1989 – Artwave ’89, juried exhibition held at the Dana Point Resort, Dana Point, Ca.
Aug. 1990 – Best of Show, National Penwomen’s 1990 Exhibition.
Oct. 1990 – Work on exhibit with the National Watercolor Society 70th annual exhibition.
1992 – Best of Show in Kailua-Kona resulting in printing of "Jungle by Moonlight" (avail. here for purchase)
1993 – Completed commission work for the Kohala Coast Estate of Dr. Earl and Doris Bakken.
1995 – One person show at Huggo’s in Kailua-Kona
1998-1999 – One person show at the King Kamehamaha Hotel in Kailua-Kona
PHILOSOPHY:
"I have maintained a relationship with my work and my life’s path with a passion for spiritual and emotional growth. My artwork moves in and out of realism as the spirit and muse moves me. I invite the viewer to play and search for images and respond through his or her own life’s experiences."
ADDITIONAL PERSONAL INFORMATION:
Susanne resides at the edge of a rain forest in Puna, Hawaii where she has created numerous tropical gardens and designed and supervised the building of a unique artist’s retreat and studio. It is the ultimate in creative atmosphere for her work. She has 37 different kinds of Heliconia (Bird of Paradise Family) and enjoys creating paintings of flowers and foliage from her tropical gardens.