Meet the Artist ~ Susan Marie
Hello Everyone! I am Susan Marie the artist of The Dancing Dragon.
I graduated from college in 2006 with a Bachelors Degree in Anthropology, Museum Studies and Art. I have so many "dream jobs" that I would love to do. One is a reality right now with this shop and website. That dream was to be able to work out of the home, creating, sharing and selling my artwork. Another dream job would be to work in the collections department of a museum maintaining, restoring and preserving collection items. This job was the primary focus of my degree, however since the museum industry is about the love of the work and not the money of the work, job opportunities are scarce. My third dream job would be to travel the world on archaeological digs.
I started The Dancing Dragon back in 2007 while employed at an in-between-job. When it was first opened it was designed to produce art work to sell at Renaissance faires. Now I sell art online as well at our Etsy shop. As many have stated before me there is a huge difference between selling in person and selling online. The biggest difference I have noticed is how you get connected with your customers. In person it is easy to be friendly and welcoming and get attention to yourself. Online it is harder to get that same connection. So I try and do what I can to make any contact I have with a customer friendly and professional.
Quite a few have asked me what inspires me as an artist. The truth is I was never quite sure. There are things I see or experience that "make me want to draw". Sometimes this is another artists work, a song I heard or a story or poem I have read. I started drawing when I was very young, about three I believe. For the most part I drew what I saw. And at that age you are exposed to a lot of fairy and folk tales. Today these are still my favorite sources for inspiration. I love how a playful story can have meaning, depth and values woven into it and still hold mystery, wonder and awe. Currently I am spending a good amount of time reading books from the library about other nations own folk tales.
Color: Purple
Mythical Beast: Unicorn
Season: Summer
Foods: Fruit, cheese, french fries and icecream
Icecream Flavor: mint chocolate chip, cookies and cream and moose tracks
Dum Dum Flavor: mango
Superhero: Superman
Ghostbuster: Ego
Mythbuster: Kari
Movie: The Last Unicorn
Anime Series: Record of Lodoss War
Susan's Hobbies and Projects
Home Grown Herbs
Counted Cross Stitch
One of my favorite hobbies is doing counted cross stitch projects. Since creating this page I have completed several pieces each taking between a month and a year to complete. Directly to the left is my most recent completed project. I had been working on it on and off over the last 3 years (as it was put aside time and time again for other projects that were Christmas or birthday presents for others). Below you will see some pictures of the first two projects originally mentioned on this page that are now finished and framed and a picture of a birth record I made for a very close friend. (As I do not have permission of the parents the baby's name has been blotted out). I have started another cross stitch and maybe once the festival is over I can get back to stitching.
Susan's Pet Companions
Like many of us animal fans Susan Marie also has some pets.
A tabby cat named Yahudi. Nick, a black lab, golden retreiver and new foundland mix dog. Yahudi is 14 years old this month (February 2012) and were adopted from the Michigan Humane Society. Yahudi was found as a stray kitten. Poor thing was frightened of brooms when we first adopted him. Nick was said to be part of an unwanted abused litter. Both of them currently live at my parents house. Sadly our dog Nick passed away December 22, 2011.