A nomad by nature, Susan Dumas is a Selma, Alabama native who calls Atlanta home for now. She shows at a variety of Atlanta art festivals, boutiques and every room of her parent’s house.

Artist Statement

      I knew that I would be an artist when I was 17-years-old and sat in front of Rembrandt’s “Return of the Prodigal Son” for two hours. I could not realize how canvas and paint could make me want to cry.

      I attended the University of Alabama where I studied photography. Although I loved photography, I just could not stop at the point of capturing the moment through a lens. I want to touch it and let it stain my clothes. I studied under Austrian sculptor Wolfgang Falch, and he helped me see that you can pull from all of your knowledge of art to create. So I started painting. I copied every style of painting and every technique I could figure out to discover “my style.”

      After years of painting for friends, family and my empty wall space, I have begun a full-time career of painting and relaxing. I pull images from my childhood, my travels and my living room to paint all things comfortable. I often collage with paper materials that are precious to me such as old Baptist hymnals from my Aunt Frances’ home, origami paper that I have stared at for hours and newspapers with articles that have affected me greatly.

      What I have realized is “my style” has no edge, no hidden anger, not even any resentment of my childhood. I love beauty and comfort and joy. I love the feeling you get when you read a Chicken Soup for the Soul short story. I love history and justice and peace. These are the things I want people to feel when they look at my work. Just like a cheesy quote about dancing all night in your favorite shoes.