Susan Taira

Artist Statement

I received both my bachelors and my masters degrees at the California College
of the Arts in Drawing and Printmaking.
My love of nature and the environment is the dominant inspiration for my work.
Whether I paint a landscape, make a print of an animal, or create a mixed media
piece or an assemblage, nature is almost always apparent. In keeping with my
concern for the environment I often use found objects and repurpose canvases
from thrift stores. I incorporate elements that I find on my nature hikes such as
dried leaves, twigs, feathers, stones, etc., into my work. In this way, I portray
nature literally in my pieces and give these elements new life.