Artist

Growing up Susan enjoyed herself most when working with her hands. Her father was a carpenter and she would often work with wood in his workshop. Her desire to be a carpenter like her father was strongly discouraged, so she became a clinical social worker and later a massage therapist. As her social work career progressed she found herself needing to get back to her passion of making things. She has been working with glass for almost 30 years, finding just the right balance between glass work, social work and massage.

In 1978 she took her first stained glass class at Bolton Stained Glass Studio in Houston, Texas. She was immediately drawn to the medium; the visual and kinesthetic appeal mesmerized her. Even today she becomes entranced when working with glass. She will often lay out many colors and textures to see what ideas come to her. Her interest in stained glass continued for the next 20 years.

In 1998 she took her first torch-work bead making class from Jim Antonius while living in Prescott, Arizona. After moving back to Texas in 1999 she began studying glass fusing with Paula Kenmuir. From 2003 to 2007 she taught beginning to advanced classes at the Art Glass Fusing Center for Austin Community College and the University of Texas Informal Classes.

She currently teaches at Helios Kiln Glass Studio in Austin, Texas. During the past several years she has had the opportunity of studying with several talented glass artists including Paula Kenmuir, Gil Reynolds, Paul Tarlow, Brad and Jody Walker, Robert Leatherbarrow, Lisa Allen, and Amy Schlief-Mohr. Each day that she works with glass she learns more and looks forward to sharing what she’s learned through her work and teaching.

Do or do not. There is no try.

          - Yoda. "The Empire Strikes Back"