To love a painting is to feel that this presence is... not an object but a voice. ~Andre Malraux


One looks at life as a gift, a painting of lights and darks, each defining the other, not a series of good and bad things. Giving thanks, and often, frees the spirit and makes the heart secure. ~Fay Bohlayer... Love and Light to you and yours!

I almost always want to sit by the window. I love looking out - seeing and feeling different types of space, especially the change of perspective looking down, like when I am on a rooftop or in an airplane. The surprise, mystery, or wonder at what I am observing is a thrill. It isn’t always important to know what it is I am looking at. Sometimes it is better not knowing but just enjoying the ambiguity and more carefully noticing colors, textures, lines, shapes, qualities of light or movement. I am endlessly interested in exploring varieties of visual delight; that pleasure we can take in the everyday experience of looking… and seeing anew.

I grew up with my Egyptian Muslim father and with my Basque-Italian-American Catholic mother, first in Egypt, and then in California. The mix they created in coming together continues to inform my identity and influence my perspectives and explorations. I wanted to change my name to Susan when I was eight years old so I could blend in more easily on California soil. My parents said no; I am grateful.

My formal painting education came from studying with artists including Wayne Thiebaud, Manuel Neri, Roland Peterson, Roy DeForest, Mike Henderson, David Hollowell, and Squeak Carnwath at the University of California, Davis, where I earned my degree in Art Studio. San Francisco, California, is the place I call home, a city that I adore, that feeds me well and that keeps me inspired to create and share.

Please write to me, soad@studiosoad.com, with any comments or questions about my work, including availability and prices, or to arrange for a studio visit. Keep up to date with my art related events by joining my StudioSoad mailing list. Visit the Arc Studios & Gallery website for more information about my studio in SOMA, San Francisco. Read local writer and photographer Julie Michelle's February 2011 interview with me here.

I love sharing ideas and inspirations about art and the important role it plays in our day to day well being. I created a StudioSoad facebook page dedicated to art related sharing. Please visit StudioSoad on Facebook and click on the "Like" button to join the conversation .Thank you for your interest and support and hope to see you soon!

Contact Info
AddressSan Francisco
United States
E-mailsend message
Web sitevisit website
Please sign up here to receive art related news from StudioSoad.


Artwork

1. above all

1. above all

2. life circles: local color

2. life circles: local color

3. above San Francisco

3. above San Francisco

4. above the Nile

4. above the Nile

5. drawing lines

5. drawing lines

6. courting the goal

6. courting the goal

7. abrazos: monotypes

7. abrazos: monotypes

8. abrazos: above & close

8. abrazos: above & close

9. veil, reveal

9. veil, reveal

10. faces

10. faces