Susan Schafer has dedicated her life to working in zoology and conservation. She received a Bachelor of Science degree with Honors and Distinction in Zoology and a Master of Science degree in Biology from San Diego State University, and a Teaching Credential in Life Science from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo. Only until much later, after dabbling in scientific illustration and doing illustrations for her own book publications, did she earn an Associate of Arts degree in Studio Arts from Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, California.

During Schafer's career, she has worked at the San Diego Zoo, including as Curator of Herpetology, and as a research assistant at the San Diego Natural History Museum. She has travelled to Europe, Australia, New Zealand, the Galapagos Islands, Mexico, and South America, studying wildlife and species conservation, and has worked as a scientific consultant for the National Geographic Society and Smithsonian Magazine.

Now Schafer has turned to art to support animal protection and conservation, donating a portion of every sale to reputable animal charities. Through her art, she hopes to inspire others to appreciate animals, domestic and wild, and to do what they can to help. She believes our very existence depends upon it.

Schafer has sold her work internationally and exhibited throughout central California at the San Luis Obispo Museum of Art, Arts Obispo Open Studios Tour, Studios on the Park Paso Robles, Art Center Morro Bay, and Harold J. Miossi Gallery. She has received numerous honors and awards, including an Award of Excellence from the San Luis Obispo Museum of Art. Schafer lives in rural San Luis Obispo County in California, where she is surrounded by the wildlife that continues to inspire her art.