SUSAN SAPANARA – Fine Artist and Arts Educator
Susan hopes to encourage a connection and stewardship to nature through her art.
An aptitude for detail led Susan to a career in Textiles and Product Development after a Fine Art education. Her professionalism later extended to her training as a Botanical Illustrator at the New York Botanical Garden where she graduated with distinction. Susan is co-founder of the Tri-State Botanical Artists of NYBG, a circle of the American Society of Botanical Artists. The TSBA is a group of over 190 artists interested in learning about and sharing Botanical Art. Susan creates a monthly newsletter for the group in addition to sharing in the management and content of the group.
Currently the Botanical Art and Illustration program coordinator at The New York Botanical Garden, Susan hopes to enrich students growth with course options from brilliant visiting botanical artists and botanists and develop challenging, result focused classes to advance artists skills. Susan joys in advising students in their pursuit of certification in Botanical art and Illustration. She will welcome her first graduating class June 2024 to the ranks of NYBG Certified Botanical artists.
A curiosity to explore techniques and materials has lead to new ways to enjoy depicting her subjects. Materials include Watercolor, oils, charcoal and printmaking as well as needlework and creative writing.
Susan resides with her husband in the Hudson Valley of NY where nature’s beauty abounds.
EDUCATION
School of Visual Arts, NYC Fine Art, Illustration, Print Making, Art Therapy, 1977-1981
New York Botanical Garden, Bronx NY, Botanical Illustration with Distinction 2012- 2014
Plein Air Workshop studies with a number of painters including Joseph Mcgurl, Robert Johnson and Morgan Samuel Price
CAREER
BIL Coordinator/Instructor- New York Botanical Garden 2016-present
Resident Artist and Workshop Leader-Stonecrop Gardens, Cold Spring, NY 2021-present
Design Direction, Textile Design, Product Development, Showroom setup and presentation-Springs Industries, Macy’s/Federated Department Stores, Croscill, Revman/Laura Ashley 1986-2016
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
American Society of Botanical Artist
Tri-State Botanical Artists of New York Botanical Garden
Oil Painters of America
EXHIBITIONS and PUBLICATIONS
2024
Garrison Art Center – the Next 60 Auction
2023
Limner Gallery-Hudson NY- Natura group show
2022
The Bothy at Stone Crop Garden – Solo Exhibition
2021
Greenwich Art Society-104th Juried Bendheim Exhibit, Buynoski Free-Hand Drawing Award
Putnam Arts Council- Picturesque Putnam, Honorable Mention
Carter Burden Gallery- Contemporary Botanical Art From New York Botanical Garden, NY, NY
Garrison Art Center- Art is Everywhere
American Society of Botanical Artists-Small works show
Light Chasers 10th Annual Show – Fifth place award, Sarasota, FL
2020
Garrison Art Center Members Show, Garrison, NY
9th Annual Light Chasers Show, Sarasota, FL
2019
ASBA Silver Anniversary Publication
Garrison Art Center Members Show, Garrison, NY
8th Annual Light Chasers Show and Paint Sarasota Paint Out, Sarasota, FL
Botanical Art at the Maplewood Library, Maplewood, NJ
Sleepy Cat Farm, Open Gardens Day, Greenwich, CT
2018
Garrison Art Center Member Show, Garrison, NY
Walk with Us, Tri-State Botanical Artist at New York, New Jersey Trail Conference, Mahwah, NJ
2017
American Society of Botanical Artists Small Works,San Francisco, CA
2016
The Beauty of Botanicals, OA Gallery, Kirkwood MO
Garden State Gardens, 27th Annual New Jersey Small Works Show, Demarest, NJ
2015
18th Annual International Juried Exhibition, American Society of Botanical Artists NY, NY
Tri-State Juried Exhibition, Ridgewood NJ Honorable Mention
Gold Light Gallery Annual International Juried show, New Hope PA
Pascack Art Association Members show, Ridgewood, NJ, Honorable Mention
2014
17th Annual International Juried Exhibition, American Society of Botanical Artists, NY, NY
Susan Sapanara 