Recent Media Attention

Portraits Profess Puppy Love

Artist Susan Becker Paints Pets' Personalities

by Meredith Knight          November 6, 2008          Golden  News

       and Golden Rhythm January - March 2009

Susan Becker paints outside on her deck, applying colorful oils with a palette knife on a portrait of a standard white poodle from Texas named Bentley.  Becker, who has lived on Lookout Mountain for the last 20 years, took up art in 2003, after completing her first drawing class at the Lakewood Cultural Center.

"I feel like I found my home in painting animals," Becker said.

Becker has painted cats, dogs, horses, newborn goats and a parrot for pet owners, some of whom want to celebrate their animal friends, and others who want to memorialize them.

"I put the eyes in first, and when they begin to sparkle, I just fall in love," Becker said.

The eyes are often the sharpest part of Becker's images. Sometimes color palettes are picked by the animal's personality: warm yellows, red and oranges when the pet seems quite vivacious and cooler colors when the pet is serious and has a message.

Tommy is a cocker spaniel Becker painted for her friend. The curls of his coat are painted with purple and blue. His eyes are a little bit sad. Tommy was adopted by Becker's acquaintance from an animal rescue group.  "His expression is one of gratefulness I think,"  Becker said.

Becker enjoys picking up new hobbies. Prior to her painting career, the artist was a long distance runner, avid cake decorator and horse show enthusiast.

Becker also paints abstracts and landscapes to stretch her painting abilities, but animals are her favorite.   The artist donates gift certificates, prints and note cards of her work to animal-friendly charities around the area. "It's a priority of mine to raise money through my artwork for animal welfare," Becker said.

You can see Susan Becker's art at The Foothills Art Center's Holiday Art Market from Nov. 15 through Dec. 24, 809 15th St. in downtown Golden.  The artist will also be featured at the Lakewood Cultural Center's Holiday Gift Show starting Nov. 17 at 470 South Allison Parkway, Lakewood, Colorado.

Photo by JUSTIN SAGARSEE

Susan Becker drags her palette brush across the canvas surface as a portrait of a white standard poodle named Bentley begins to come to life Friday, Oct. 31, at her home in Golden.

These are excerpts from the original newspaper articles.

Holiday Art Features Pets

Cultural Center Ready for Season with Featured Art

By Ryan Parker         November 26, 2008          Lakewood News

      

With the holidays here, homes are not the only settings being seasonally decorated. Lakewood Cultural Center features different colors, themes and pieces from artists, but one painter in particular has a passion for other people's pets.

Susan Becker of Golden specializes in portraits of four-legged family friends and other animals, with some of these pieces on display at City Hall for the holiday show.

"My pet portraits were invited into the Lakewood Cultural Center Artisan Gift Shop about a year ago," Becker said. "I have taken classes in the Lakewood Center, attended performances and shows there and am greatly enjoying the Lakewood-Belmar renaissance."

The Cultural Center is a great forum to display her pieces, no matter the season, she said.

"My portraits are vibrant interpretations designed to touch the heart, capture an essence and represent a spirit. They are windows into the furriest souls as I see them, tangible, yet magical salutes to the animal-human emotional connection," Becker said.

"I want my art work to stimulate the viewer to confirm that inside every animal is a unique and precious individual who deserves and needs our voice and care," Becker said. "My goal is to create awareness of animal rights issues, to inspire people to nourish and protect these precious companions, and to support animal welfare organizations with my artwork."

City employees said they appreciate the talent of Becker and the works of art make them think of their own pets.

"We have over 60 artists represented in this year's display and the work ranges from jewelry to large-scale paintings," said Lorene Joos, arts program curator for the center.   “All of the pieces are by local artists and residents who like to support their neighbors. I think when people buy handmade pieces they appreciate them more, because they know the time and love that went into them," she said.

                                   Susan Becker… Pet Portraits

                                                     by Carole Lomond    December 5, 2008

Susan’s portraits are vibrant, sophisticated interpretations designed to capture the essence of a best buddy’s spirit.   Her paintings are windows into the furriest souls as she sees them, tangible, yet magical salutes to the animal-human emotional connection.

“Painting and drawing unique, individual souls of pets are a passion for me, a deep

kind of intimacy. My sense of time, age and gender seem to disappear when I am at

the easel. What emerges from my canvases are vibrant interpretations and translations in oil, intended to touch the human heart.”

After serving as Director of the Boettcher Mansion on Lookout Mountain for 25 years, she began a journey as an artist in 2003. Her love for animals—horses, dogs,

cats, foxes, birds, deer, elk, goats… ALL animals—create images on canvas. She now paints commissioned pet portraits, publishes note cards and prints and eagerly

supports animal welfare organizations with donations for fundraising   ...  silent auctions, door prizes, raffles, etc.

Susan’s abstract paintings provide yet another expression of her creativity. Her artwork is available this holiday season at the Lakewood Cultural Center, Foothills

Art Center, Clear Creek Bookstore in downtown Golden and Center for the Arts Evergreen. Pet portrait gift certificates may be purchased as unique and treasured gifts for seasonal holidays, birthdays and all occasions.  Pencil drawings begin at $150, oil paintings at $300.