Rising Stars: Meet Susan Manders

Today we’d like to introduce you to Susan Manders

Hi Susan, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My story truly begins growing up in Studio City, CA. My imagination was boundless, and my love for art was ever-present. I was the kind of kid who found inspiration everywhere—from the shapes in the clouds to the car oil stains on the ground. My unique perspective on life, though not always linear, has always been a part of me. This perspective didn’t always serve me well in school, but, nevertheless, it has been invaluable in my art. For example, while in my reading circle in the first grade, we were offered the Dick & Jane primer which appeared to be picture books as the words were barely noticeable to me, if at all. When it was my turn I improvised the story which seemed the logical thing to do. I can spend endless hours in my studio, completely absorbed. Art has always been my stabilizer. Painting, for me, is all-encompassing. This passion for art has given my life greater meaning, especially throughout the over 40 years I’ve spent sharing it with my students, alongside the joy of being a mother and grandmother.

I often experience long periods of quiet reflection, where I’m not actively working on anything. Then, as if out of nowhere, ideas flood in all at once, like plucking them out of thin air. Everything starts to fall into place—the images, the context, the composition, and the color. I blend elements of relationships, both fun and serious, sometimes with a touch of kitsch. My goal is to create pieces that are thought-provoking and stimulating. The artwork starts to come alive, and eventually, I reach a point where I decide it’s time to move on to the next piece.

Painting is a metaphor for my life. As a painter and artist working with oils, acrylics, and digital fusion, I am the writer, director, and producer of my own stories on canvas. I relish creating visceral stories that draw from my imagination, fashion, old films, and personal experiences. In a way, all the people in my paintings are people I know, both real and imagined. Viewers are free to invest their own meanings, which may or may not resonate with them.

For the most part, I create art that is aesthetically pleasing to me. I am incredibly fortunate that being an artist never feels like work. Teaching only adds to the pleasure. At my beloved studio, The Art Experience in Studio City, I have shared my love of painting with countless children and adults. For many, it has been not just helpful but empowering. Seeing my students become “artists” in their own pursuits has been one of the greatest gifts in my life. How lucky am I?

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I guess you could call it a challenge: having taught mostly people that are committed to learning even if just for fun. On the other side of that coin, now and then, i have dealt with some who, shall we say, do not respect the process. In retrospect, though it may not be obvious, those individuals are perhaps having a hard time in general. I try not to take it personally.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I believe what makes my art unique is the combination of my personal experiences, imagination, and the inspirations I draw from various sources like fashion, films, music, and dance. Each artist brings their own set of qualities and perspectives, and I simply bring mine to the canvas. My goal is to create art that is thought-provoking and stimulating, but ultimately, it’s the viewer’s interpretation and connection that matter most.

Often, it seems rather mysterious why certain pieces stand out over others, both personally and publicly. It’s not uncommon for my personal favorite pieces to differ from those favored by others. In the end, is it recognition for accomplishments that sets an artist apart? Perhaps being recognized as the 2nd woman selected Olympic artist, collaborating with respected designers, and having my work acknowledged by large corporations, along with raising funds for meaningful causes, has set me apart.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.susanmanders.com
• Instagram: susan_manders
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/susanmandersartexperience/