Susan is an accomplished painter, trained at Kutztown University, who is passionate about utilizing classic art techniques. She believes that creating art is a perpetual exploration of style and skill.
After working as a commercial artist with years of design and illustration experience, Susan found her true passion in fine art. Her paintings and pastels have been sold to several national and international collections; she has received numerous awards. Her work is exhibited throughout Eastern Pennsylvania and Delaware.
Susan is well-known for her paintings of food, including a series of pears and one of doughnuts. She began painting food in the early 1990s, inspired by Edouard Manet’s “Bar at the Folies-Bergere.” Her work started with a bowl of fruit and soon became an obsession; she considers herself a “foodie.”
“It’s a subject I’ve left from time to time to paint people, scenery, the environment, commissions,” says Biebuyck. “But I keep getting drawn back to the food.”
Mission: Fun!
Girls just want to have fun, and Susan is all about the fun. “Yes it’s true, I do just want to have fun. In my mind, art should be enjoyable to look at and to create. I’m serious about not being ‘too serious.’
“I’m attracted to a variety of subjects; I am drawn to realistic imagery—be it fruit trees or individual pears, mouth-watering doughnuts, electric lines cruising along lazy orchard hills, forgotten corners behind a busy street, iconic doorways of hometown USA, or uplifting panoramic landscapes. My series of works are meant not only for your enjoyment but for mine too. Yes, I’m selfish; I paint when I know I’m going to enjoy the process.”
While drawn to realism and passionate about utilizing classic art techniques, Susan believes that creating art is a perpetual exploration of style, skill, and expression and is not afraid to venture into impressionism or abstraction. Susan shared on ArtInfo, “I find beauty in reality, not realism, but what life really looks like to me. Our society is not made up of runway models and brand-new, clean materials. Blemishes, rust and decay are the patina of life. They reflect life and its goodness, as things really are. ”
Party Hearty!
Susan loves a party! Following her education at Kutztown University Biebuyck enjoyed a 20-year career in graphic design and illustration and then felt called to return to her first love—fine art—when Reading’s art center The Goggleworks opened. “I needed to paint; I needed to step out from being a housewife who paints to being a studio artist, and I needed to add my energy to a ‘collective intellect,’ absorbing the energy and inspiration in the company of other artists. We feed off of each other, learn from one another’s failures and take inspiration from our assorted successes.”
Knowing her thoughts, it’s amusing, and understandable, that the August 2008, issue of American Style magazine found Susan’s directive “Don’t feed the artists” scrawled colorfully on her white board. The artists need to nourish one another’s creativity.
Gallery Director and Muse
Nurturing the “collective intellect” is behind her current passion—serving as Gallery Director of Studio B, one of the newest galleries in Berks County, located in historic Boyertown, PA. Since the December 2008, opening of Studio B, Susan has welcomed hundreds of artists and community members to a variety of exhibits. And hosting the gallery’s opening receptions filled wall-to-wall with admirers is always her goal. It’s all about the fun.
“Allowing my artist friends yet another avenue to showcase their work, to have time to connect and to inspire one another, to foster creativity at all levels within the community offers rewards above and beyond my singular efforts as a studio artist. Making art accessible, provoking collaboration, encouraging interaction, avoiding elitism leading to experiencing art and enjoying art in a different way provides me a chance to stretch my muscles in a mother/healer role.
“The synergy inspired by diverse styles and ‘voices’ in a themed show, the opportunity to grow the aesthetic sensibilities of the community and to have a direct hand in creating these experiences offer a personal challenge I find fulfilling beyond words.”
Gallery Director as Work Horse
“Folks are amazed that ‘little ole Boyertown’ welcomes our modest, yet upscale, fine arts gallery and teaching studio. The opportunity came quickly — almost unexpectedly — and some told us our immediate goal couldn’t be done; but we had an opportunity to welcome over 500 people to our opening night held during Boyertown’s annual Holiday Open House Tour, and so we worked night and day to get the studio ready within a month.”
The community watched as Susan painted the gallery; stripped, sanded—with a sander in each hand—varnished, and coated the dark walnut floor to a glossy finish nothing short of spectacular. Her work ethic defies description.
Studio Artist, Teacher, and Committee Member
Susan is a fulltime working artist who currently works from Studio 205 at The Goggleworks Center for the Arts in Reading, PA. There, Susan teaches painting and drawing classes. She has served on both the Marketing and Exhibition Committees at Goggleworks.
Process
Her studio promises excitement in its variety: there’s always some new creation in the works. Rather than paint in repetition, Susan’s work is often theme-based featuring a common thread or idea that knits the collection together. This approach allows her to explore many techniques, styles, supplies, colors and theories.
Exhibits, Collections, and Awards
Susan’s work has been sold to several national and international collections, received numerous awards, and is exhibited throughout Pennsylvania and Delaware.
Contributing Art Exhibits in 2008 and 2009
September 2009: Gallery 510, Harrisburg, PA
“Spring Exhibition”: Judy’s On Cherry
The Berks Talk Line Fund Raiser
“Landscape Industry” Show: GoggleWorks, Reading, PA
Red Raven Gallery, Lancaster, PA
“The Farm”: Studio B, Boyertown, PA
Rehoboth Art League Member’s Exhibit, Rehoboth Beach, DE
Premier Art Show, Studio B, Boyertown, PA
“Goggle Gala”: GoggleWorks, Reading, PA
Exhibition of Small Works, Kutztown, PA
“Great American Plein Air Paint Out,” Berks County Contact
Summer Plein Air Festival, Arts & Activities Alliance, Boyertown, PA
Rehoboth Beach Yacht and Country Club: Artist of the Month, June 2008, Rehoboth, DE
Crave Gallery, Wernersville, PA
“Art in the Fast Lane”: Berks Art Alliance, Wyomissing Institute of Art, Wyomissing, PA
Berks Art Alliance Annual Show, at Reading Museum, Wyomissing, PA
The Young Republicans Club, Solo Show, West Reading , PA
The Jewish Community Center, Fromm Gallery, Reading, PA
Spring Showcase Artist, Judy’s on Cherry, Reading, PA
Goggle Artist of the Month, GoggleWorks Center for the Arts, Reading, PA
Mt. Gretna Art Show, 2007 & 2008, Juried Art Exhibition
“Natural Worlds” Juried Art Exhibit, Reading, PA
Art of Jazz, Schmidt Gallery, Reading, PA
Ron Schira Fund Raiser, Robbie Pepper’s Gallery, Reading, PA
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