I have been an active muralist for over 15 years. In 1993 I graduated from Hussian School of Art in Philadelphia, PA and currently reside in Merchantville, New Jersey. My full time mural arts career began in Southern California where I worked for many years. In 2000, I moved back to my home state of New Jersey where I continue to make my craft available to a host of clients in the areas of Southern New Jersey, greater Philadelphia area. I now reside in York County, PA painting murals and commissioning original paintings.
Apart from an occasional mural job, I have been home for 3 1/2 years caring for my three year old son. I took this long hiatus from mural painting as to not miss out on this time with him. Once my son and I got into a routine, I found I had a sliver of free time and I wanted to start painting on canvas for myself. I was starting to worry that the mommy job was taking over and the artist was fading away. I aspired to paint what I chose to paint and not what someone hired me to paint on their walls. This was so much more difficult to do then I initially thought. It used to be so easy for me to just paint anything when I was young. Nearly two decades of painting murals of different subjects and styles became the norm. I didn�t even know where to start. I felt like I forgot how to do the very thing that always, since childhood, came so easily to me. What do I paint?! I needed inspiration.
It started with a leek. I was in the midst of the daily multitasking mommy duties unpacking from a run to the market when I placed a bunch of beautiful spring green leeks against the robins egg blue walls of my kitchen. Inspiration struck! I pulled out my camera and started a photo shoot like I was photographing a high fashion model. Adjusting the light and shooting from different angles. I knew I had to paint them. After that... asparagus, red cabbage, peas, tomatoes... Maybe it was the �eat your veggies� mommy in me I don�t know but it finally got me to pick up a brush and paint something I wanted to paint. I was so happy to be painting again. For me. Not a client. Painting what I wanted to paint even if it was only and hour or two during nap time or late at night. I started to feel like me again. Thank you, bunch of leeks.
Suzanne Rende joined Pixels.com Licensing on March 1st, 2015.
