Press Artwork - Susan Respinger

Welcome to my first newsletter

susan — Thu, 07 Sep 2017 06:14:03 +0000

Thanks to my brainy brother all kinds of fancy technical things have been happening to my website, including setting up a newsletter subscription! (Like a lot of artists, I’m not amazing with computers).

Dog Drawing

It’s been a pretty crazy journey since I quit my job as a hairdresser and decided to throw myself into my art full time with the support of my amazing husband. I think the main thing I’ve learned is to just give things a go and see where they take you.

I started off being quite ridged and one track minded. I thought all I needed to do was paint what I love, put my pieces up in galleries, sell them and repeat. This didn’t turn out to be quite how the art world works especially in a bit of an economic down turn.

I think the first thing to shake me out of that way of thinking was when we moved up to Karratha for a few months. There was no way that I could take all my painting equipment up there and Karratha only has one art supply store which is more of a craft and knitting store. So I decided to bring some good paper and pencils and focus on my drawing. Luckily, right around that time there happened to be an art competition on in Port Hedland (a couple of hours drive from Karratha) called “A Dot On The Run” and so all my animal head drawings were born.

Mandalas Mural

My husband, being my biggest fan, was showing off all my animal head drawings to his work mates in his new office and they started asking if I would draw their animals. Also being around Christmas I put out the word on social media that that was a service I could provide. The response was huge. I thought I was going to bored in the middle of the desert for three months but I was busy drawing commissioned portraits and animal heads for an upcoming exhibition the whole time. Nothing like isolation to really help you focus.

Another lesson I learned is to talk about what you really want. I have a few mural artist friends and I’ve always thought it looked like fun but didn’t really know how to get into it professionally. I started mentioning it to friends and getting more confident about the whole idea of it. I mean…if I can paint on huge canvases that take up half my studio…why not a wall? All of a sudden people started agreeing with me and when they saw opportunities they threw my hat in the ring for me. Another lesson: Don’t be a jerk…if you try to help people out they’ll do the same…the world is what you make it.

So now I’ve painted over twenty walls and am getting ready for some other projects coming up in the future. I’m loving the diversity of my work. When I’m not painting murals on people’s wall, I’m doing commissioned portraits or paintings and even doing some sign writing which I think my Grandpa Benbrook would be proud of if he were still around. He was a sign writer, photographer and artist.

All in all, being your own boss really shows you who you are and what you’re capable of. I’m really proud of how far I’ve come and really enjoying every lesson along the way, even the really hard ones.

Fern Goddess Mural

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Cloud Appreciation Society

susan — Tue, 24 May 2016 09:55:58 +0000

Looks like the Cloud Appreciation Society appreciates my cloud painting! What…you didn’t realise there was a Cloud Appreciation Society? Well…what’s not to appreciate about those beautiful fluffy shapes in the sky, constantly changing shape and colours like a giant lava lamp. If you haven’t come across it already you should check out their website or Facebook page. There are some amazing photographers and artists capturing all kinds of beautiful clouds including mine which was a commissioned piece that I did recently.

Featured Painting

If you’re interested in having a personalized, commissioned piece of art made for you, contact me to talk through your ideas and for a quote.

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Featured Artist in Paper Crown Issue 2

susan — Tue, 19 Apr 2016 02:42:14 +0000

The latest issue of the online magazine, Paper Crown Issue 2 has just come out and I’m so excited to say that two of my art works are featured in it! My French Girl (lips) and Mr Asanti are both in there among some beautiful stories, poems and other photography and art works from around the globe. Click the link below to view this up and coming arts magazine.

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Bali Pet Crusaders Charity Art Auction

susan — Thu, 03 Mar 2016 03:02:24 +0000

Recently I drew a cat and dog head for a T-shirt design for the Bali Pet Crusaders. My Mum is living on the island at the moment and got to know them because they have a veterinary clinic quite close to her house. She was amazed at the awesome and really important work that they do to help the dogs on the island. The Bali Pet Crusaders are an Australian registered charity created by passionate animal lovers and people who are strongly affected by the stray dog and cat population in Bali. They believe that with their Sterilisation Project they can truly make a difference to the animal welfare on the island with the help of the local and international communities.

Seeing as I only needed to send them a digital copy of the drawings to use on the shirts I still have the originals with me so I thought it would be a great idea to auction them off and try to raise some money for this amazing cause. So if you love animals and you love Bali please make a bid for one or both of these drawings and I will give all the profits to Bali Pet Crusaders. The bidding will start on the 3rd of March, 2016 and finish on the 31st of March, 2016. All you have to do is let me know how much you bid and I will keep track of what it’s up to. I will announce the winners on the 1st of April, 2016. Please share this post with as many animal and Bali lovers as you know.

You can contact me on this website or my Facebook Page to make a bid or if you have any queries and I will get back to you as soon as possible. Click here to learn more about the Bali Pet Crusaders. Thank you.

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Paper Crown featured artist

susan — Fri, 21 Aug 2015 03:35:37 +0000

Paper Crown Magazine has chosen me as one of their feature artists for their first issue with, not one, but FIVE of my pieces. Paper Crown is a new online magazine which showcases artists and writers works from all around the world.

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