Susan Grill Joss

Brush & Ink

14" x 11" (unframed)

Having attended Carnegie-Mellon University, Philadelphia College of Art, and Portfolio
Center I have spent my life working as a painter, graphic designer, illustrator, interior
designer, and teacher. Along the way I have continued my studies with numerous
painters, to learn more about landscape and still life imagery, with an emphasis on
figurative painting and portraiture.
My goal is to translate the social context of narratives into emotional imagery.
Photographic reference is pivotal to my work. I am drawn to the immediacy and
informality of snapshots. When photographing my subjects, I am entering their world,
both external and internal. We talk. We share stories. We build trust. Poses emerge
naturally during our time together, allowing for the opportunity to capture an unguarded
moment.
Sifting through the photos gives me the chance to see them anew. I make drawings
from a number of the photos to see where the narrative starts to emerge. This forms the
basis for the portrait. My intention is my connection with my subject, not the painting.
I currently teach small groups of students out of TheStudio in Buckhead. To see images
of student work check out my instagram at thestudio_sgjoss.
Visit my website to see more of my work at www.sgjoss.com.