Suzanne Barrett Justis

“... I soon discovered that being an artist wasn’t just what

I would do...it’s who I am!” – Suzanne Justis

Suzanne Barrett Justis

World renowned artist takes art to an extraordinary level

Suzanne Barrett Justis is a self-taught artist who has turned her college, and even during her first professional job in cancer research love for animals and art into a life-long passion. She began at Vanderbilt. Doctors and other coworkers would commission her her journey into the world of art as a mere child. Her mother to do their pets’ portraits. She loved painting animals so much that was a professional artist who helped her develop a love for art at a on some days she would skip work to paint. Following her work at very young age. Despite this, Suzanne never saw herself drawing or Vanderbilt, Suzanne became a stay-at-home mom to raise her first painting for a living. Her love for animals led her to college where child, Hannah. Although she was a full-time mother, she began she majored in animal science. “I saw myself as being a veterinarian to use her art as a way to make a living while caring for both her or working with animals in some aspect; I never thought I would be daughter and her son, Matt. After the children were a little older, an artist.” Suzanne continued, “But I soon discovered that being an she began doing murals all over East Tennessee and Southwest artist wasn’t just what I would do...it’s who I am!” Virginia. Some of her mural artwork is featured at area hospitals,

Suzanne did commission paintings all through high school, continued on page 7

“Cock-la-ree Holds Audience”

This piece is currently on tour. It will be in exhibit in several museums across the world including the James Art Museum of

Wildlife and Western Art in St. Petersburg, FL

“Fire and Ice”

From page 5 the Kingsport Civic Auditorium, the YMCA, and other public spaces.

After Matt began school, Suzanne opened her very own studio and gallery in beautiful downtown Kingsport. As a business owner, she was able to work around her children’s schedules and do what she loved doing as an artist. As a result of having a mother and grandmother who were artists, Hannah and Matt both have grown into artists themselves. Hannah received a bachelor’s degree in fine arts and now she does commission drawings and paintings as well as manages the frame department at Michael’s Crafts. Matt is currently in college and is doing an internship at Bailey Computing Technologies as a computer networking engineer. He is also an artist in the music world as an extremely talented percussionist. Now that Suzanne’s children are both grown, she works most days creating masterpieces, teaching art, and giving back to her community.

Suzanne became a signature member of Artists for Conservation (AFC) in 2018 and has 6 paintings included in a mural that is currently on tour all over the world. The mural, entitled “Silent Skies,” is an international collaborative project that features 678 endangered species of birds from all across the world. It is made up of all-original artwork on 8x8 canvases and was completed by 160 AFC artists from 15 countries. Most canvases are available for sale, and each artist donates a portion of their sales to a conservation organization of their choice. Suzanne was honored to participate in the project and attend the unveiling of the 100-foot masterpiece in Vancouver, BC at the 27th International Ornithological Congress. The mural will be on tour until 2022.

Suzanne wanted to give Kingsport the chance to experience the mural and raise awareness for the red-listed endangered bird population. To make this vision come true, she enlisted the help of Bonnie MacDonald, previous Kingsport Cultural Arts Director. They had the mural printed on vinyl and made Kingsport the very first city to display the international “Silent continued on page 9

A posthumous portrait of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. “Harry”. A friend that is now deceased — the painting now hangs in Harry’s son’s home in Atlanta.

From page 7 Skies” mural as a vinyl outdoor work of art. It was displayed on the side of the State Street Theater on Market Street from February 2019 through September 2019. Bird watchers, enthusiasts, and art lovers came from all around to view the gorgeous mural.

Following the mural’s display in Kingsport, Suzanne and others began to team up to dispose of it properly and keep it out of the landfill by recycling it into tote bags. The pilot project is still in the works and bags will be for sale at a later date. Proceeds from the sales will go to sewing groups and endangered bird charities.

Suzanne also has another piece of artwork currently on tour with Artists for Conservation entitled “Cock-la-ree Holds Audience.” Just like the mural, this piece of art will tour from Vancouver to Arizona to China and end up in the James Museum of Western and Wildlife Art in St. Petersburg, Florida. Coincidentally, this museum is owned by a friend of Suzanne’s late father. More than three years ago, her father told her, “Oh Suzie, you need to be in that museum!” She said, “He always believed in me and my art even when I didn’t believe in myself. It just goes to show that,

Opposite page: “The Silent Sky” mural was displayed across from Suzanne’s downtown art gallery/studio at 110 E. Market St in Kingsport. The mural was very popular with bird watchers. Suzanne would actually see people looking at the mural with binoculars so they could identify each bird. with God, He will put you where you need to be.” Laughing she continued, “And you better believe that I will be in St. Petersburg for its unveiling!”

Suzanne also had a local unveiling of three heartfelt and touching posthumous portraits of officers from the Bristol Virginia Police Department. She was honored to be asked to do those paintings. She said, “You just can’t help but to feel and see the loss of these three great men as you are capturing their likenesses.”

She has also painted commission pieces for other notable people, such as the horse portrait she completed for Shay and Bob Griese. If you don’t know about Bob Griese, you must not be a Miami Dolphin football fan. Griese led the Dolphins to three consecutive Super Bowls with two victories as the team’s quarterback. This was a double treat for Suzanne because she loves horses and loves to paint them.

Suzanne gives back to her community in many ways to show her appreciation for the arts and for the community that she cherishes. She is currently a member of Oil Painters of America, Artists for Conservation, and the Portrait Society of America.

She has served on several committees, donated many pieces of art to charity events and local animal shelters for fundraising, participated in live demonstrations, and judged art events, such as the Pride events. She also has works of art in zoos’ permanent collections worldwide. The Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago, the Dallas Zoo, the Zoo at Grassmere in Nashville, and the Chapultepec Zoo continued on page 11

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From page 9 in Mexico City are just a few that display her work. However, possibly one of her most well-known undertakings in Kingsport was serving as the lead painter of the Kingsport carousel project for six years. In this role, she was in charge of painting all the animals, teaching volunteers, and making sure the color palate was cohesive throughout the carousel. It was quite an undertaking and many are still enjoying the project today.

On a daily basis, Suzanne paints in her studio, teaches classes, and displays and sells her artwork in her gallery. She also travels to hold painting workshops in various locations. Well-known for her wildlife paintings, most workshops are centered around teaching wildlife painting techniques. The three-day-long workshops last anywhere from 8 to 10 hours each day. Attendees leave the workshop with a vast amount of knowledge and some great paintings.

Although 2020 has been a challenge, she has not let that hold her back. With the help of her tech-savvy son, Matt, she now has tutorial videos on YouTube and Patreon. The videos on YouTube are approximately 20-minute time-lapse videos, and on Patreon, they are in real-time. Through these online avenues, most anyone can join and learn at a minimal fee. Suzanne said, “I am also able to teach online with my students and hold workshops through Zoom. I have several students across the USA that join me for a weekly class. If nothing else, Covid forced us to do things smarter. Kinda like a dinosaur, you must evolve. I did miss seeing people come into my studio, but thankfully, I was able to open my gallery and studio back up. I do require that strict masking and social distancing guidelines are followed in my studio. Although I continue my online videos and zoom workshops and classes, I do have around 15 students attending class in the studio again.”

In her classes, students not only learn the skills to draw or paint, but they also learn the history of artists, their techniques, and styles. Following a little history lesson, students will paint in the style of that particular artist. Many of Suzanne’s students have gone on to be professional artists themselves. She said, “Seeing my students reach success is one of the aspects that I enjoy most in my teaching. It fills my heart with joy.”

If you are interested in learning more about Suzanne’s art, classes, and tutorials, feel free to visit her at her gallery or venture onto her website. You won’t regret it!

— By Rita Dykes

“Madame H”. Suzanne’s daughter Hannah was the model.

Suzanne Barrett Justis Fine Art Gallery 110 East Market Street Kinsport, Tennessee 37660 Phone: 423-967-4040 Website: www.sbjfineart.com Facebook page: Suzanne Barrett Justis Patreon link: patreon.com/suzannebarrettjustis YouTube: Suzanne Barrett Justis – Artist More on the conservation efforts and the “Silent Skies” mural: visit: Artistsforconservation.org