Susan M. Story

"Painting and mark making are my means of communication as well as my way of understanding the world. The elements of nature and woodland vistas of the Hudson Valley, where I live and work, serve as my muse. I employ diverse mediums in my creative process, but rely on soft pastel as my principal voice with which to convey and amplify my narrative. I am drawn to the landscape and intrigued by the complex interweaving of lines, textures, and shapes: the chaos and the order of nature. My work offers the viewer the opportunity to stop and “smell the roses,” a respite, a moment to breathe and be replenished."

Susan M. Story works in an upstate New York studio surrounded by the environment that inspired the Hudson Valley School. “I am drawn to the landscape, and intrigued by the complex interweaving of lines, textures, and shapes: the chaos, as well as the order of nature.” Coming from a family of artists, she left a career in fashion design to pursue Her passion for landscape painting. Story graduated from the Parsons School of Design/The New School with a Bachelor of Fine Arts. The intense and focused curriculum and a foundation of drawing prepared her for a fine art studio practice. A Signature - Master Pastelist member of the Pastel Society of America, Story serves on the Board of Governors and has International Association Of Pastel Societies Master Circle status. She is a juried member of the historic Salmagundi Club, as well as the Academic Artists Association, Allied Artists of America, Audubon Artists, Hudson River Valley Art Association, and the Catharine Lorillard Wolfe Club. Story has shared her technical experience and understanding of many mediums with students, young and old, from library-supported classes to workshops at the National Arts Club in NYC. Story's artistic achievements include: features in the prominent publications: Pratique des Arts magazine; the Pastel Journal magazine and their 2019 book Pure Pastel: Contemporary Works by Today's Top Artists by Anne Hevener. Her recent honors include: New York State Regrant Artist commission Award; Grand Prize, Horace Champagne from the PSEC; Art Spirit Foundation Gold Medal, 138th Salmagundi Club's Members Exhibit; PSC’s President's Award at the PSA Annual; the IAPS Award for Excellence Online MC Exhibit and several top awards over the years at the Pastel Society of America. Several of her paintings have been purchased by Apple TV for movie sets.