Putting her whole self into most everything she does, Susan thrives on recognizing the gifts connection, spontaneity, and hard work bring. She strives to help make the world a better place, how and where ever she can. Her healthy “renaissance spirit” exudes charm and challenge—prompts painting, writing, and therapy/coaching enriched by passion, purpose, and attention to detail. Rather than focusing on one area, Susan favors interdisciplinary approaches: chances to explore and celebrate what interests, excites, and perplexes, no boundaries. The world is her palette, and the characters, landscapes, and happenings there abundant sources of wonder and opportunity.
Studio Assistants
A proud and particular dog-mother, Susan loves all things animal, especially her Poodle pal companions, Lev and Sage, for whom she’ll do anything. Their images, stories, and involvement are integral to her work and day, whether painting, writing, or offering therapy/coaching.
Susan’s Journey
In the early 1980s, Susan left Europe for North America, an adventure that's ongoing... Her jobs have included teaching English to francophones in Québec, working in PR for the British government (Expo ’86), coordinating bilingual educational programing fo Canadian television (TVOntario), giving art instruction in French (Toronto French School), consulting at several North American universities (University of Toronto, Vermont College, Union Institute), leading group therapy on a psychiatric unit (the Toronto Hospital) and creating new recreational programing at a premier US health spa (Canyon Ranch).
Susan’s Ph.D. is in Interdisciplinary Studies (Psychology, Sociology, Arts Therapies, and Health and Health Care) with a focus on Integrating the Arts in Psychotherapy. Her research in this area provides firm foundations for careers as 
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—as do her world travels. Susan is a School of the Museum of Fine Arts (Boston) graduate, which might help explain the original style and direction her art making takes. In 2007, she accepted the invitation to represent Canada at the Florence Biennale, and presented a specially prepared painting installation, Buon Appetito! In 2008,she exhibited at two international art fairs: Toronto Art Expo in March, and the Artist Project, Chicago in April.
Much of Susan’s artwork adorns community organizations and charities in the Greater Boston area, due to her involvement as artist donor with the Art Connection. In 2009, she joined Greater Boston's Arts and Business Council’s Artist’s Toolbox Program. From 2010, som of Susan's paintings will be represented by Boston Art. Please, also, check out the Portrait Society of Canada’s show, scheduled to coincide with Vancouver’s 2010 Olympic Winter Games' festivities. Nathalie Lambert, Chef de Mission of the Canadian team, graciously agreed to be Susan’s portrait subject, and loves the resulting diptych! Susan is now working on a triptych of Alex Baumann, one of Canada’s most decorated Olympians and leader of the Own the Podium initiative.
Apart from painting priorities, Susan remains ever-busy working on book manuscripts, the reproduction of her cheerful images onto carefully crafted products, and interesting doggy and foodie projects. Then, there’s her slightly neglected Blog, Facebook, and Twitter accounts, and the overdue re-development of the DocSusanWebsite...
©Susan R. Makin, 2003–2010