We had the good fortune of connecting with Susan Price and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Susan, have you ever found yourself in a spot where you had to decide whether to give up or keep going? How did you make the choice?
i find painting/art to be so personal, so strange. At least weekly i have arguments with myself about why do this? shall i keep going, why? is it important? Only to me, most of the time, even though i belong to 3 art groups/galleries/organizations and have a bunch of art pals. Since i no longer expect to make any money. Just hope now and then that someone falls in love with a painting, for their own reasons. I dont paint to suit other people, just my own sense of what to include, what colors to use, how the painting is “balanced”, never “even”, nor “centered, but still….balanced. Which is why it’s such a surprise when someone is entranced. I will know to absolutely hang my brushes up when i run out of storage space under our bed.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I am told i have a very good sense of color. I know that i love color, but it was a surprise to me that my approach is good enough to cause comment from other artists and critics. I am excited that i still get new ideas and new art friends and occasionally collectors who like my work. Lessons include: it takes a long time to get better at this, so patience is required, and, there are as many definitions of “good/serious art” as there are artists and collectors, so be less critical. I will likely spend the rest of my life reminding myself of those two lessons. I have little story, i have no past trauma or specialness, i just enjoy this process.

Any great local spots you’d like to shoutout?
I love to eat, more than my tiny old metabolism can handle, and this is now definitely a foodie town. I love Italian, Ethiopian, Lebanese and Mexican food. On the West side: Il Forno Trattoria, Lares, Sunnin, and Lalibela come to mind. I also love baked goods: Milo & Olive/Huckleberry, The Larder are favorites. Ok, now we need to walk it off, whenever the beach opens up again, i think a long walk by our sea will be in order. I also love theatre, Mark Taper Forum and the Kirk Douglas in Culver City are my regulars. For chocolate (essential, right?) Sees is my jam, dark chocolate.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My figure drawing and painting instructor/critic/encourager, Joseph Blaustein. Who, still at 96, can find what is just off in a painting and gently suggest, “hmmm, maybe…something up here?” And, he is usually right. I am thrilled that Los Angeles Artists Association deemed me “an artist” shorltly after Joe did, Women Painters West, and then TAG Gallery also see that. My “Art Pack” gang for general encouragement and laughs. The recently deceased Mr. David Valentine, for being the best art buddy-coach-fan of my work, and for slinging the art talk so magnificently. And of course, the great cook and fool who lives with me and puts up with my studio taking up half of our living room, Mr Wright.

Website: www.susancprice.com
Instagram: @scprice48
Facebook: susan c price

Image Credits
two photos of susan price by Alan Griswold