Art has always been a part of my life. My mother was a professional artist, and I was lucky enough to grow up in New York City, where I was exposed to incredible art of all kinds.
During my high school years, I spent my free time drawing live models at the Arts Students League and practicing my skills in my mother’s art studio. After high school, I decided to make my passion my career, and earned a bachelor’s degree from the School of Fine Arts at Boston University and a master’s degree from Massachusetts College of Art and Design.
Three Juvenile Barn Sparrows, Eco print and colored pencils, 12.5″ x 15.5′ (framed);
Redbellied Woodpecker, Eco print and colored pencils, 12.5″ x 15.5′ (framed);
Great Horned Owl and Owlet, Eco print and colored pencils, 12.5″ x 15.5′ (framed)
I went on to teach high school students for over thirty years in a variety of mediums, including drawing, photography and mixed media. I loved helping young people to express themselves through artwork, and found that my classroom provided them with an outlet and a safe space. Since retiring from teaching, I have enjoyed the freedom of experimenting with new art techniques, all inspired by the creatures and foliage in my own backyard. I have had the privilege of showing my work at the Concord Center for Visual Arts, 6 Bridges Gallery, Gallery Twist, the Cultural Center at Rocky Neck, the Danforth Art Museum, Belmont Gallery of Art, and the Attleboro Arts Museum. I am one of the featured artists at Gallery Twist, which is in Lexington, MA.
Left to Right:
Ruby Throated Hummingbird Eco print and colored pencils, 12.5″ x 15.5′ (framed);
Great Blue Heron Eco print and colored pencils, 12.5″ x 15.5″ (framed)
My current work evolved from my love for bookmaking. When making books, I made my own decorative paper using a variety of techniques, including marbling, paste paper, and eco printing. I became especially intrigued with the eco print process as I began noticing all the subtle colors and beautiful details of the leaves I was steaming and printing on paper. When drawing birds for my husband, who is an avid birdwatcher, I found that the eco prints made the perfect background for these drawings. Five years ago, I turned my focus from bookmaking to using eco prints as the backdrop for my colored pencil drawings. This new work combines my passion for doing my artwork with my love for the outdoors. I hope my work brings people a greater appreciation for the beauty of nature and the stunning features of the plants and animals around us. I am currently working on a series of pieces featuring birds which are native to New England, where I hope to showcase the beautiful and often overlooked details of the birds we all call “common.”
Suzette Durso is currently one of the featured artists at Gallery Twist, in Lexington, MA: https://www.gallerytwist.com/suzette-durso
FEATURED ARTISTS