Artist Profile: Susan Drey

Susan Drey Watercolor Artist

Tell us a brief history of your journey into art. My passion for art began at the early age of five, when I took classes at the Des Moines, Iowa Art Center. Although, in later years, when it came to my career, I followed in my dad’s footsteps, choosing the more practical field of architecture. I practiced as a licensed architect for 15 years before I decided to leave the field in 1995 and focus on more artistic ventures.

Photography was the first direction I took, opening my own photography business, which I owned and operated for over 10 years. Another of my interests came to the forefront in 2009, when my love of gardening and design merged for the perfect combination in the field of landscape design. I quickly learned the trade and became a lead designer for a landscape company. Then, in 2016, when I picked up my watercolor brushes and began to paint once again, I knew it was time to take the leap of faith and pursue my art full time.

What is your style of art? What drew you to it? My medium is watercolor, but drawing is the foundation of my work. I love the feel of the pencil on paper, and my initial drawings often lead to new thoughts and directions. Line work is such an important part of my painting that I often mix in pen and ink, charcoal or anything I think will work, including gouache, colored pencil, and markers. I have a very loose and energetic style with a lot of variation in line width and intensity. I add spattered paint and exaggerate features, colors and characteristics to emphasize my subject’s unique nature.

What is your favorite subject matter? It is the human figure, or any figurative work, with horses coming in at a close second. I like the figurative work because it is where I can truly capture the gesture, musculature and structure of my subject.

I began my renewed interest in watercolor by painting the beautiful songbirds I would see along the rail trails in Omaha. But after attending a watercolor workshop in 2017, taught by Daniel Marshall, my interest in street scenes was rekindled. I began painting the landmarks of Rapid City and it lifted my work to an entirely new level. I also started painting the wildlife of this area - bison and horses - which allowed me to be extremely expressive in my line and brushwork. Eventually, I began painting self-portraits - another sort of wildlife - HA!

How did you learn your specific art skills? I still remember my first art classes at the Des Moines Art Center where I had a fantastic instructor who brought us outside amongst the tall pines where we experimented with pen and ink wash - a medium I still love today. At one point, I painted some roses with watercolor on a wet piece of paper (wet on wet), and it was forever cherished by my grandmother, who spent all her time in her rose garden. It was quite an honor for it to be professionally framed and hung in my grandparents' finely decorated living room.

I continued to develop my skills throughout high school, followed by art classes at Iowa State University, and then throughout adulthood, at the University of Minnesota, Maryland Institute College of Art and many other local art centers. But most of what I learned came from hard work and being constant in my practice and determination.

What is your favorite piece? Why it is your favorite?It is a very small piece that I painted for an

open house I held last February 2018. The subject is the street front where I live here in downtown Rapid City. I knew it would be fun to paint, with all the neon signage, store fronts and interesting architectural details. I treated the painting as if it were a quick watercolor study and didn’t worry about it becoming a finished work for exhibit. The painting had so much energy with all the cars and signage out front - it captured the exact feel of the street.

What tips or advice do you have for other aspiring artists? Keep at it, every day if you can - just a quick little sketch to keep you engaged with that side of your brain. Be brave, push yourself, and don’t be afraid to fail. Understand that most of your work will not turn out how you envisioned it, but if you keep at it, you will eventually find your direction.

Don’t think you are a failure because you can’t get it right on your first try or second or fifth. My first successful street scene was of the Buell Building and it won the Juror’s Choice Award and a Purchase Award at the 2017 Annual Watercolor Society Exhibit at the Dahl Arts Center. But I painted that scene over and over for a total of 8 times before I was satisfied.

That was probably not a great approach, as I now divert myself by sketching new ideas, trying out new techniques, etc. But one thing I did learn is that it pays off if you persist. In the past, I would always give up and move on to the next venture, project or dream. But my love and interest in watercolor was too important for that, so I gave it my all and am so thankful.

What artists have inspired you? I have always been attracted to Edward Hopper’s compositions and subject matter. Reginald Marsh and Toulouse-Lautrec are two other painters that I greatly admire and whose style I identify with, who also paint the human condition.

Cezanne and Degas have also made a great impressionbecause of their amazing compositions, along with theirexpressive use of line and contour.

Where we can see your work? www.susandrey.com Facebook @susan.drey Instagram @susandreyart

Rapid City galleries include the Alex Johnson Mercantile, Shaviq Boutique and Art Gallery, and Bonzeye Studio. I also have my art for sale at ArtForms Gallery in Hill City. BHW