Susan E. Cunniff

I'm a Maine-based pastel, charcoal and watercolor artist who paints portraits and figures of people and animals and whatever else captures my eye. Coming home to my creative pursuits late in life, I am enjoying newfound freedom to follow my artistic instincts whenever the spirit moves me. More recently I am exploring more figurative work. I like the challenge of working with vintage images and bringing them to life in color.

Having grown up in a large family, I find myself returning to themes of family and belonging, the pleasures of childhood, and the simple joys in life such as nature, animals, collected items. I also come from a long line of strong women who have weathered adversity each in their own way. Consequently, I find inspiration in themes of motherhood and independence. Having missed the boat on motherhood, children are another favorite subject, each painting along those lines an expression of delight, longing and/or remembrance. 

My work has been selected for inclusion in national and international juried shows and has received numerous awards since I started painting in 2015. A number of my works are held in private collections in Colorado, Florida, Massachusetts, Maine, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont, and Costa Rica.