ARTIST STATEMENT
I am a
self-taught life-long painter. One of my earliest memories is that of
sitting next to my grandmother. She was sharing my plastic flip-top
palette of "paint-by-number" paints and magically beautiful cottages and
flowers blossomed on pieces of scrap paper in front of her. Throughout my
school years, I enjoyed painting during vacations, but never thought of
art as a possible career, although my family has always given me
encouragement and “collected” my work. I enjoy painting detailed scenes of
life today. Special events and happy occasions with people we love are
important images that I like to document in paint. I generally use
water-based paints, acrylic and gouache, and I like the “toughness” of
painting on Masonite board. Before a painting is begun, it already exists
in my mind. Then, like a 1000 piece puzzle, parts of the painting are
separated and sorted into “piles” of colors. Details are then added, the
more the better. As a painting nears completion, my family and friends are
asked “What does this painting need?” or “Is this painting finished?” My
youngest children provide me with the best heart-felt critiques and
thoughts. It is my hope that my paintings bring joy to those who view
them, realizing that the “good days” are here, now and today. Today we
are making precious memories.
BIOGRAPHY
An
Iowan since 1972, Suzanne B. Aunan is a self-taught artist who has enjoyed
painting as far back as she can remember. Born in New York City, she
enjoyed childhood on a dairy farm in Orange County, NY and graduated from
high school in Glen Ridge, NJ. Suzanne attended the University of Iowa,
majoring in Medical Technology and later graduated from the Physician
Assistant Program. She worked as a P.A. at University of Iowa Hospitals
and Clinics in Hematology Oncology and the Bone Marrow Transplant Unit,
then as a full-time mother of four. Now with all four children in school,
she is enjoying a career as an artist. Suzanne paints detailed
compositions using acrylic, gouache and watercolors, sometimes adding
pencil or ink pen. She created her first limited edition lithograph “The
Last Ride In” in October 2000, and since then has added other lithographs
and museum-quality Giclee prints of her work. Her work has been purchased
by collectors world-wide. Suzanne maintains an award-winning website
www.sbaunan.com
where samples of her work and art show schedule can be found. Suzanne B.
Aunan lives with her husband and four children in Iowa City, Iowa.
AWARDS
/ HONORS:
2007:
-Art Business News March 2007 New Editions
2006:
-MegaPress Agency
Tokyo, Japan
-Invitation to "Biennale Internazionale Dell'Arte Contemporanea,"
Florence, Italy 2007
-"Hey YAH!" University of Iowa's Year of the Arts & Humanities "The Daily
Palette" August 16
-Honorable Mention Hooverfest President's Best Art Show Hoover
Presidential Library
2005:
-Honorable Mention Hooverfest President's Best Art Show Hoover
Presidential Library
-"Hey YAH!" University of Iowa's Year of the Arts & Humanities "The Daily
Palette" October 4
-University of Iowa Alumni Association
-Iowa City
Public Library Purchase Award "Art to Go"
2004:
-"The Iowan"
Magazine, Jan.-Feb 2004
-University of
Iowa Fine Arts 2004 Calendar
-University of
Iowa Alumni Association
-Invitation to
"Biennale Internazionale Dell'Arte Contemporanea," Florence, Italy 2005
-University of
Iowa Alumni Association Reunion
-"Hey YAH!"
University of Iowa's Year of the Arts & Humanities "The Daily Palette"
September 2
-People's Choice
Winner Hooverfest President's Best Art Show Hoover Presidential Library
2003:
-Iowa Arts
Festival commemorative poster licensee
-University of
Iowa Alumni Association
-Des Moines Arts
Festival Gallery
-Cahoon
Museum of American Art, Cape Cod, Cotuit, Massachusetts
"Modern Primitives: Simple Art in a Complex Age" A Survey of 20th-Century
Primitive Art in America
-Fourth Place,
The President's Best, Herbert Hoover Presidential Library & Museum
-Invitation to
"Biennale Internazionale Dell'Arte Contemporanea," Florence, Italy 2003
-University of
Iowa Alumni Association Reunion
2002:
-One-artist show, the Old Post Office Art Gallery, Iowa City, Iowa
-University of Iowa Alumni Association
-Best of Show, The Second Annual President's Best, Herbert Hoover
Presidential Library & Museum
-Purchase Awards: Two Rivers Art Expo (Farm Bureau Financial Group Award
and Rich and Jane Hein Award) Des Moines, Iowa
-University of Iowa Alumni Association Reunion
-Purchase Award: Waterloo Center for the Arts, Waterloo, Iowa
2001:
-Cahoon Museum of
American Art, Cape Cod, Massachusetts
-University of
Iowa Alumni Association
-University of
Iowa Alumni Association Reunion
1999:
-"ATT's Cool
Website of the Week" October 6
circa 1969:
-New Jersey Flower and Garden Show, Poster Contest, honorable mention
