Meet Susan J Osborn

Today we’d like to introduce you to Susan J Osborn.

Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
My love of life inspires my work; the fascination with details, happenings, the wonder of it all and a deep love for heritage.

I have observed changes in how we do things, society and noticed what has evolved over fifty years in this world. While these changes have happened, they have also my inspiration and art.

I began as a “magical realism” painter most often reflecting sacred and feminist themes. I soon found that drawing in oil pastel allowed me to show more energy, gesture, and movement and retain the vivid colors of my ideas in less time.

While I was teaching eleven art subjects to high school students, I also taught myself to work in many different mediums because I had to prepare curriculum “with my feet running.”

The assemblage began in 2007 after the death of my father. I found that assembling the objects from my childhood home with memories of my parents helped me move beyond the grief.  I could give new life to objects of the past. I work mainly in assemblage, now.

Please tell us about your art.
With assemblage, I go to estate sales, resale shops, garage sales and find things by the road. If something unusual pops out for me, I have to grab it. The object becomes my muse and tells me what the objects go with it. I lay things in groups around the studio that eventually create the finished piece. I have many techniques at my disposal given to me through many years of teaching and experimenting.

Many ask about the technique of assemblage. I do not weld the assemblages but use wire, nuts and bolts, and glue.

I hope my audience “gets it!” I hope they giggle and smile as they bring their experiences to view my artwork and those experiences resound with what I have put into the work.

The most important thing to me is when others connect to the work.  I love it when one can relate with wonder to the joy, color, and energy of the drawings or the humor and nostalgic memories of the assemblages.

As an artist, how do you define success and what quality or characteristic do you feel is essential to success as an artist?
I think an artist has to have a passion and a vision. What I mean is that an artist has to create and can’t do otherwise.  I am being creative daily. Yet, it is a struggle for many artists to keep it up. Making art is not necessarily a profit-making enterprise and going to a daily job can interere.  I was fortunate to find a job teaching art and learning fromn my students.

Success is happiness. I am happy when I achieve goals or when I complete artwork to my satisfaction. It is double happines whensomeone enjoys my art and can appreciate it along with me.

How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
I have been exhibiting in San Diego County, Baja California and south Los Angeles area.

One can support my efforts by attending my exhibitions, telling others and giving me your opinions about art.  It is very helpful to support the art organizations through funding or volunteering.

My current exhibitions are:

Paisanos/USA will be exhibiting at The Consul of Mexico in San Bernardino, 298 N. “D” Street, San Bernardino, CA 92401. The exhibit runs from early November 2018 until July 2019.

PAISANOS MX-US will be exhibited at the State Center for the Arts (CEART) below:
CEART Tecate                    Noviembre’2019 (aun por confirmar)
CEART Tijuana                   Febrero’2019 (Feb.21-Mar.21’2019)
CEART Ensenada              Marzo’2019 (Mar.28-Jun.28’2019)
CEART Mexicali                 (por negociar)

December 2, 2018, to Jan. 13, 2019 – 2019 Biennial Exhibition at the William D. Cannon Art Gallery, Carlsbad City Library Complex, 1775 Dove Lane, Carlsbad, CA92011.

December 15, 2018, to March 14, 2019 – The Artist Portrait Project: Fifty San Diego Artists, 2006 – 2016, Central Library Art Gallery, 330 Park Blvd. San Diego, Ca 92101.

December 18, 2018, to February 11, 2019 – Artwalls O’side at O’side Bakery, 3815 Mission Avenue, Suite 101, Oceanside CA 92058.

January 13 to March 2, 2019 – “She Pushes Boundaries” at the Front Porch Gallery, 2903 Carlsbad Blvd. Carlsbad, CA 92008. Artist Reception: January 13, noon- 2 PM

February 2 to April 28, 2019 – “HER,” at the Black Umbrella Art Gallery in Garden Grove, CA.
Opening Reception is Feb. 2, 2019.

June 2019, West Coast Drawing group exhibit at LAartcore, Little Tokyo and Brewery Annex, Los Angeles, CA.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.osbornart.com
• Phone: 619-890-6120
• Email: susan@osbornart.com
• Instagram: susanjosborn
• Facebook: Susan J Osborn Art

Image Credit:
Susan J Osborn

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