The Art of Susan Rios

Born on February 16, 1950 in Terre Haute, Indiana, Susan Rios was raised and now resides in the Los Angeles area. She won an art scholarship to California State University, Northridge.

Largely self-taught, Susan's artistic potential was apparent even as a child. Her love of the outdoors inspired her to begin drawing scenes from nature. Today, she continues to find inspiration in the gentle-hearted beauty of everyday life.

Susan's surroundings are reminiscent of the images she paints. Working from her home-based studio in Glendale, California, many aspects of her world are subjects in her paintings - daughter Olivia, granddaughter Rosie, her cats, and countless collectibles.

A painter of feelings and emotions, Susan creates familiar scenes that exude peace, harmony and romance. Images of cozy interiors, lush floral gardens, and soothing seashores uplift the senses and the spirit.

When painting, she devotes herself to one image at a time. The close relationship she develops with each painting radiates from the canvas, evoking a sense of emotional closeness and intimacy that distinguishes her work from other contemporary artists.

She prefers working with acrylics because they dry quickly, allowing her to catch a little moment in time and then share it with others.

A professional artist for more than 25 years, Susan spent the early years of her career working as a floral designer. She soon discovered that blending flowers was similar to mixing colors on a palette. To this day, flowers are an ever-present motif in many of her paintings, as are other "favorite things" - wicker chairs, love seats draped with afghans, intricate bits of lace, china cups, and teapots.

Rios' impressionistic style emerged as she studied the colorations of Matisse and Monet. She often says that her favorite color is white, and admires the play of white in the works of artist Gustav Klimt. The vivid environments and gentle subjects she selects are always depicted optimistically, as if testament to the possibility of "happily ever after" outcomes.

Says Rios, "All the decisions in the world are present in a blank canvas-every choice is mine to make. As I make those choices and the painting progresses, I weave stories about them: Who is there? What are they doing? What is that woman thinking about as she walks alone at the ocean's edge?"

Susan Rios lives and works in a cozy home studio that nestles up to Griffith Park in Glendale, California. Her artwork reflects that coziness, drawing the viewer in for a stroll in the garden, a cup of tea, on a long overdue rest in a quiet place.

She sees her paintings as metaphors for a state of mind. These days, when we are all so crazy-busy, quiet time seems self indulgent, at best. Yet Susan's intention is to encourage the viewer to take time to connect with positive feelings through a visually pleasing image.

"People often tell me they love living with my paintings because they make them feel happy, or peaceful, or calm, that is my deliberate intent," Susan says. She visually tries to give the viewer that feeling, the peace and space to feel quiet and connected. To look at a Susan Rios painting is to be whisked away to another world, one of beauty, tranquility, and harmony. Yet the settings are somehow very familiar, evoking a feeling of being at home at the same time. Like you never even left your own backyard.

Susan devotedly supports charities and nationwide organizations, including the Los Angeles Children's Hospital, Saddleback Community Outreach (Orange County), Taylor Family Foundation, Make a Wish Foundation and The Ronald McDonald House of Orange County.

Over the last quarter-century, Susan's work has attracted the attention of many noted collectors and celebrities who have added her paintings to their private collection such as Jane Seymour, Mr. & Mrs. Bruce Dern, Priscilla Presley, Phyllis George, Ann Gillian, Sandy Duncan, Shelley Fabres, Andre Agassi, Mr. & Mrs. Brian Wilson and Mr. & Mrs. Walter Matthau.

The timeless, enduring beauty of her work continues to garner attention from art enthusiasts, young and old alike. The emotional impact of her paintings however, is the most important element. As an artist, she says, that is her true reward.