Susan Edwards
Artist, Executive Director and Founder
Susan Edwards has a B.S. degree in Secondary Mathematics, is the mother of 3 children, and is a trained children’s leader through Bible Study Fellowship International. She has more than 20 years teaching experience in educational programs, art education, Sunday school, and as a swimming instructor. She has been an artist for over 20 years. She has owned and operated a business with her husband for the past 15 years.
Susan started painting when she was only sixteen, but without proper art instruction in high school, she when on to follow a career in Math Education taking drawing and painting classes periodically through out her college career and beyond. But not until she was in her late twenties did she start seriously painting. She is considered a mostly self-taught artist, specializing in landscape painting and best known for her genre of painting trees and sunsets. Using what she likes to call a realistic with an impressionistic bent, Susan creates light filled watercolors that seem to glow from inside. Her art has been collected from coast to coast in private homes to corporate collections.
She is also widely known in her home town as the Art Attack lady. Susan started a not-for-profit art school in her home town eight years ago called the Art Attack. Susan is the full-time director of the Art Attack and its Founder. Her vision of creating a space for children and adults to develop their artistic abilities was realized in October 2000. She has worked tirelessly for the last seven years, often unpaid, to keep the dream alive.
It was born out of her desire to make sure that no other children had to go without proper art instruction as she did when she was younger. To date the Art Attack has brought art to about 4000 young people’s lives, ranging from kids who are homeless to those who intend to be serious artists.
Susan has sat on many boards in the area, such as: ABC preschool, Mother’s Day Out, Sycamore Child Care, and more. She has represented several committees’ in our local area like: Discover Sycamore’s Event committee, Ben Gordon’s Snow Ball, Safe Passage’s Art show at the DeKalb area Women’s shelter, and Opportunity House consultant for out side activities to name just a few. She is a long time member of the Sycamore Women’s Club and was the Art Director for five years. The Illinois Art Council also used her as an advisor in 2005 to create the Strategic Plan that is now in place for Illinois.
She has a firm belief that art will always survive because we as humans have a strong desire to create. However, there is a tragedy happening in our country where we have now raised almost two generations without art appreciation in our schools. The Average American these days cannot tell you why art is important or what role it plays in our society. “I do not want other children to realize, as I did very late in life, that they want to be a full time artist, they need a place to experience as much art as they should so they can make the decision to pursue an Artistic degree.”
Susan is also considered a fine artist muralist, using acrylic to create realistic to funny scenes in homes, businesses and schools. She can be contacted at 815-762-3476 and email susanedwardsartist@comcast.net.
Susan invites you to become involved in the Art Attack, as a student yourself, as a board member, or as a volunteer. Remember we are only as good as how many are involved. You will make the difference between a small organization and one that will really impact the lives of children and adults.
"Sunset in Minnesota 2", 16 x 20 acrylic on canvas, collection Ditmer Family, Germany
"NIU Lagoon I and II" 11 x 30 watercor on paper, collection Roberts Family, Sycamore
"Dreaming of Sunsets" 12 x 20 watercolor on paper, stolen from Kishwaukee Hospital in 2007 any information about this piece would be appreciated, call 815-899-9440 or email susanedwardsartist@comcast.net
