Susan Matthews picked up a brush for the first time in the fall of 2000 and it has hardly left her hand ever since.

"From the moment the color hit the canvas, I was consumed. I love the learning process and I love the work."

While she paints still life and does figurative work, Susan is most attracted to color simplified landscapes, painted with aggressive brushstrokes. Having visited over 35 countries, she draws heavily from her travels for inspiration. One of her favorite trips was taking 22 artists to Tuscany for a painting adventure. Her love of landscape grows naturally from her contemplation of the outdoor world.

"My years spent riding in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado forged a deep connection to the earth and to wild life. I am haunted by vast skies and the sound of waters. For the past seven years, she has worked at Braitman Studio as a manager and art teacher. She currently resides in Charlotte, NC where she paints daily and teaches in her home studio.