Susan Santiago

Susan Santiago- Artist's Statement

I am interested in people and places. My art work reflects both my personal journeys and the places they have taken me.
I spent most of my adult life living in Southern California where I fell in love with both the unique terrain and the ethnic diversity of the area. The subjects of my figurative work  portray the people I  met in Los Angeles and traveling to  Europe and Mexico during my  summer vacations. I have always been interested in other cultures, in particular, the wide spectrum of ancient and modern cultures of Mexico.

The subjects of my landscapes were also derived from both my travels to the east coast and the rural areas of southern California. While working as an art teacher in Los Angeles, I chose to live in remote areas outside of Los Angeles city proper.  I  made my home in the canyons of California for over 20 years. When I retired from teaching I moved to San Miguel de Allende ,Mexico , where I currently reside .
I work primarily in acrylic and over the years I have experimented with  bold brushstrokes of color. I taught art history for over 25 years and the work of Matisse and the Fauves influenced  some of my earlier work.
I am now permanently residing in San Miguel de Allende, Mexcio and I  work every day in my studio.  I have a great deal of respect and admiration for the  hard working people of Mexcio and I hope that this admiration is reflected in my current work..
I am now examining the work of many of the Mexican artists, such as Tamayo, Diego Rivera, and Raul Aguinado. I have always been a representational painter and I am continuing down this path as I begin my new series  inspired by my new life in San Miguel De Allende in Mexico.