Susan began creating animal portraits when she was a teenager. Those portraits were created with a yellow number 2 pencil and lined three ring binder paper. Since that time, in addition to learning to use quality, archival materieals, she has experimented with many different types of media, including watercolor, acrylics, colored pencils, and her latest love, oils.
Life got in the way of creating art for awhile, but In 1988, Susan was fortunate enough to discover the Florida Keys. She spent almost 20 years there, soaking up the sunshine and the incredible art. It was there that she was able to renew her love for art and learn from some of the best artists on the islands.
Early in 2006, Susan began working with oil paints. After 2 years of using only colored pencils, the change to working with oils was amazing. She loves the depth and intensity of the oil colors. In 2007, Susan returned to her first love - animal portraits. Her love of animals shows through clearly in her paintings. She has that special ability to capture the spirit of the animal.
The mountains of North Carolina became Susan's new home early in 2008. She and her husband, Ian, are enjoying the total change in environment. Susan loves the surrounding woods and farmland. Deer visit nearly every day, as well as the occasional turkey or raccoon.
Susan enjoys working in both oils and colored pencils. Her colored pencil paintings take many hours to create. Each painting is created with anywhere from 5 to 15 layers of color. Each layer is influenced by the layers below. Some of Susan's colored pencil paintings are done with wax-based pencils and some are done with watercolor pencils. She uses different types of paper depending on the pencils she will be working with. The papers vary from smooth to rough and each type has its own characteristics that lend to the final painting.
Animals have always been a part of Susan's life. She is happy to be able to contribute money from the sales of paintings to several local Western North Carolina animal shelters/rescues. She offers commissioned animal portraits that include a donation to animal shelters and rescues. She has contributed to the Yancey County Humane Society, the Mitchell County Humane Society and FiFi's Friends with sales of both original paintings and prints.
Gallery Representation:
Moonstar Gallery- Foscoe, North Carolina
Exhibitions:
2012 - Helping Paws Online Exhibition
Canine Art Guild
2011 - Fall Celebration of Arts - Toe River Arts Council
Spruce Pine, North Carolina
2011 - Mitchell County Animal Rescue's "Art for Animal's Sake"
Penland School, Penland, North Carolina
2011 - Helping Paws Online Exhibition
Canine Art Guild
"Charlottesville Hound" received 3rd Place People's Choice Award
2011 - Avery County Arts Council and Art Cellar Gallery Paint Out
Arts Centered Gallery, Banner Elk, NC.
2011 - Blue Ridge Fine Arts Guild "Route 80 Back To Our North Carolina Roots" Exhibit
TRAC Gallery, Spruce Pine, North Carolina
2011 - Western North Carolina Plein Air Painters Exhibit
Montreat College, Black Mountain, North Carolina
2011 - Western North Carolina Plein Air Painters Exhibit
The Design Gallery, Burnsville, North Carolina
2011 - Toe River Arts Council Spring Studio Tours
TRAC Gallery, Spruce Pine, North Carolina and Selena-Glass and Metal, Burnsville, North Carolina
2011 - Toe River Arts Council's Paint Out
Burnsville, North Carolina
2011 - Mug Shots Online Exhibition
Canine Art Guild - People's Choice Award Winner
2010 - Toe River Arts Council Winter Studio Tours
TRAC Gallery, Spruce Pine, North Carolina and Selena-Glass and Metal, Burnsville, North Carolina
2010 - Fall Celebration of Arts - Toe River Arts Council
Spruce Pine, North Carolina
2010 - For Pet's Sake, a group show to benefit Brother Wolf Animal Rescue
Blackbird Frame & Art, Asheville, NC
2010 - Avery County Arts Council and Art Cellar Gallery Paint Out
Arts Centered Gallery, Banner Elk, NC.
2010 - Mitchell County Animal Rescue's "Art for Animal's Sake"
Carolina Theater, Spruce Pine, NC
2010 - Toe River Arts Council Annual Auction
TRAC Gallery, Spruce Pine, North Carolina
2010 - Toe River Arts Council Spring Studio Tours
TRAC Gallery, Spruce Pine, North Carolina and Selena-Glass and Metal, Burnsville, North Carolina
2010 - Please Match My Sofa Art Show, Conn-Artist Gallery
Hendersonville, North Carolina
"Panther Sofa" awarded 3rd Place in "Sofalicious" Category
2010 - Toe River Arts Council's Paint Out
Burnville, North Carolina
2010 - Women of These Hills , Transylvania Community Arts Center
Brevard, North Carolina
2010 - Blue Ridge Fine Arts Guild First Annual Exhibit
Burnsville, North Carolina
2010- Dog-Gonn It Online Exhibition
Canine Art Guild
2009 - Fall Celebration of Arts - Toe River Arts Council
Spruce Pine, North Carolina
"Early Morning" received Show Award
2009- Helping Paws Online Exhibition
Canine Art Guild
"No Dogs Allowed " received 3rd Place Tie in People's Choice Award
2009 - Cows of Crabtree
Crabtree Creek Gallery, Burnsville, North Carolina
2009 - Blue Ridge Fine Arts Guild Founding Members Show
Crabtree Creek Gallery, Burnsville, North Carolina
2008 - Small Canvas Project
Atlanta, Georgia
2008 - It's A Small, Small Work, Haywood County Arts Council
Waynesville, North Carolina
2008 - Helping Paws Online Exhibition
Canine Art Guild
"Afternoon Nap" received 4th Place People's Choice Award
2008- Facing South: Portraits By North Carolina Artists
Green Hill Center For North Carolina Arts, Greensboro, North Carolina
2007 - Toe River Arts Council's Paint Out, Burnville, North Carolina
2007 - Artists in Paradise Annual Judged Show,Big Pine Key, Florida
"Bahamian Boys" received Best In Show
2006 - Lemonade Stand Art Studio "Small Works" Exhibition, Key West, Florida
2006 - Key West Art Center Juried Show
2006 - Artists in Paradise Annual Judged Show, Big Pine Key, Florida
"Netta's On Potters Cay" received Second Place in the Graphics Division
2005- November - Stone Soup Gallery, Key West, Florida
"Colored Pencils" by Susan Garriques - Solo Exhibition
2005 Key Women Artists - Key West Customs House
2005- Artists in Paradise Annual Judged Show, Big Pine Key, Florida
"Saddles" received Third Place in the Graphics Division
2004- Key Women Artists - Key West Customs House
2003- Key Women Artists - Key West Customs House
Awards:
2011 - Helping Paws Online Exhibition
Canine Art Guild
"Charlottesville Hound" received 3rd Place People's Choice Award
2010 - Please Match My Sofa Art Show, Conn-Artist Gallery
Hendersonville, North Carolina
"Panther Sofa" awarded 3rd Place in "Sofalicious" Category
2010 - Troutacular Paint Out
Spruce Pine, North Carolina
"Troutacular Morning " received 1st Place
2009 - Helping Paws Online Exhibition
Canine Art Guild
"No Dogs Allowed " received 3rd Place Tie in People's Choice Award
2009 - Fall Celebration of Arts - Toe River Arts Council
Spruce Pine, North Carolina
"Early Morning" received Show Award
2008 - Helping Paws Online Exhibition
Canine Art Guild
"Afternoon Nap" received 4th Place People's Choice Award
2007 - Artists in Paradise Annual Judged Show,Big Pine Key, Florida
"Bahamian Boys" received Best In Show
2006 - Artists in Paradise Annual Judged Show, Big Pine Key, Florida
"Netta's On Potters Cay" received Second Place in the Graphics Division
2005- Artists in Paradise Annual Judged Show, Big Pine Key, Florida
"Saddles" received Third Place in the Graphics Division
Publications:
2011 - Rally To Rescue - A Purina Pro Plan Magazine
2009 - Great Dogs Amazing Artists by Jan E. Irving
Illustrations:
2008 - Graphic Design for Toe River Arts Council's Annual Art Auction
2004- Easter Seals Annual Christmas Ornament Design
Schaus Swallowtail Butterfly
2000- Best Tips from Women Aboard edited by Maria Russell
1999- Easter Seals Annual Christmas Ornament Design
Loggerhead Turtle in Coral
1997 Pooch Pals and You - Safety First by Doris Phillips
Professional Affiliations:
Blue Ridge Fine Arts Guild
Canine Art Guild
Toe River Arts Council
Western North Carolina Plein Air Painters
HeARTs Speak
