I am a pastel artist drawn to the quiet beauty of everyday life. Working exclusively with soft pastels on sanded papers, I use rich color, layered mark- making, and luminous light to transform ordinary moments into intimate visual experiences. My subjects often come from my own photographs—scenes from travels, nature, and daily life that invite a pause: a fleeting shadow, a quiet street, a figure at rest, the way light brushes across a landscape.
My process begins behind the camera, where I collect reference images that spark an emotional response. In the studio, I develop each piece through careful composition, an underpainting to establish value and mood, and multiple layers of pastel to build depth, atmosphere, and texture.
I am especially inspired by the way artists like Joaquín Sorolla handle light, and by the teaching and mentorship I’ve received from contemporary pastel masters. Their influence has helped me refine my use of color, edge, and value to guide the viewer’s eye and create a sense of presence.
At the heart of my work is a desire to honor the “small” moments that often go unnoticed. By slowing down and observing closely, I aim to reveal a sense of wonder in the familiar—inviting viewers to recognize their own memories, feelings, and stories within the scenes I paint. My hope is that each piece offers a brief moment of reflection, connection, and quiet joy.
Juried shows, & Non Juried*
2026
Oaktoberfest 2026, Flossmoor, IL. “Plein Air”Auction
Union Street Gallery, Chicago Heights, IL.”Celebrating Community 2026”
Tall Grass Art Association, Park Forest , IL”You Can’t Keep a Good Artist Down”
Red Rocks Pastel Society, Las Vegas, NV. “ Member Show”
Union Street Gallery, Chicago Heights, IL Earth & Ocean
Frankfort Art Association, Frankfort, IL. Elemental
Frankfort Art Association, Frankfort, IL. Duality
The Edge Coffee House, Crete, IL. Union Street Gallery Guild Member Show Frankfort Art Association, Frankfort, IL. ,Golden Hour,
2025
Red Rocks Pastel Society, Las Vegas, NV. “ Member Show”
Frankfort Art Association, Frankfort, IL. Captured In A Moment
Creative Gallery& School Crete, IL. “ 2025 Community Showcase”
Tall Grass Art Association, Park Forest , IL. The Whole Kit And Kaboodle
Union Street Gallery, Chicago Heights, IL. Celebrating Community
Chamber Night with Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra, Flossmoor, IL. “Plein Air”Auction
Frankfort Art Association, Frankfort, IL. Micro /Macro
The Edge Coffee House, Crete, IL. Union Street Gallery Guild Member Show
Tall Grass Art Association, Park Forest , IL“Sanctuary” Frankfort Art Association, Frankfort, IL. Flora & Fauna
2024
Crete Creative Gallery& School Crete, IL. “ 2024 Community Showcase
Chicago Pastel Painters, Chicago, IL., “Strokin’ 10!”Tenth Biennial MemberJuried Exhibition”.
Red Rocks Pastel Society, Las Vegas, NV. “ Member Show”
Tall Grass Art Association, Park Forest , IL“Kaleidoscope”
Chamber Night with Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra, Flossmoor, IL. “Plein Air”Auction
Tall Grass Art Association, Park Forest , IL “Water Works” Frankfort Art Association, Frankfort, IL . “ Destinations Unknown”
Mc Cord Gallery, Palos Park, IL. “ Doorsways: Coming or Going”
Union Street Gallery, Chicago Heights, IL. “Natural Inclinations”
Frankfort Art Association, Frankfort, IL. “Mimic”
2023
Crete Creative Gallery, Crete, IL. “ 2023 Community Showcase”
Frankfort Art Association, Frankfort, IL . “Monochrome”
The Edge Coffee House, Crete, IL. Union Street Gallery Guild Member Show”
Beverly Arts 46th Competition & Exhibition , Chicago, IL.
Frankfort Art Association, Frankfort, IL ., “Direct Observation”
2023
Frankfort Art Association, Frankfort, IL “ The Power of Light”
Union Street Gallery, Chicago Heights, IL. Virtuosity in Unity”
Tall Grass Art Association, Park Forest , IL.“ Windows And Doors”
Frankfort Art Association, Frankfort, IL “Marked”
2022
Crete Creative Gallery & School., “6th Annual Crete Community Showcase”
Union Street Gallery, Chicago Heights, IL. “Parallel Visions”.
Tall Grass Art Association, Park Forest, IL. “TA-DA” The 2022 Annual Tall GrassGallery Artist Exhibit.
Frankfort Art Association, Frankfort, IL. “Recently”
2021
Light Space & Time Online Art gallery.,“11th Nature Art Exhibition”,November 2021 th
Crete Creative Gallery & School., 5 Annual Community Showcase, Crete, IL. Chicago Pastel Painters, Chicago, IL., “ Making Their Marks”*
ChicagoPastelPainters,Chicago,IL.Eight Biennial National Open Juried Exhibition, “Pastels Chicago 2021.”
Tall Grass Art Association, Park Forest, IL., “Reunion”.
Crete Creative Gallery and School @ Arbor House, Crete, IL., “My Best Friend.”*
2020
Tall Grass Art Association, Park Forest, IL., “Growl, Howl, Moo, Baa, Roar. Chicago Pastel Painters, Chicago, IL., “Strokin’ VIII Eighth Biennial
MemberJuried Exhibition”.
Tall Grass Art Association, Park Forest IL. “Hot Wheels.”
Union Street Gallery, Chicago Heights, IL. “ Natural Light.”
2019
Chicago Pastel Painters, Seventh Biennial National Juried Exhibition, The Art Center Highland Park, IL.
Union Street Gallery, Chicago Heights, IL. Garden Walk Fundraiser.
Aper!o Catelogue Fine Art Edition, “Warmth” July 2019,
2018
Governor!s State University Gallery, University Park, IL. “Creating Art En Plein
Air at Nathan Manilow Sculpture Park “ Exhibition.”
Union Street Gallery, Chicago Heights. IL. “Contemporary Nature.”
Tall Grass Art Association, Park Forest, IL., Frankfort Arts Association, “Emerging Perspectives.”
Awards
2024
Crete Creative Gallery & School., “6 Annual Crete Community Showcase”
Sixth Place
2023
Frankfort Art Association, “Art On the Green” Honorable Mention”
Frankfort Art Association, Frankfort, IL “ The Power of Light”Jurors Award of Excellence
2022
Crete Creative Gallery & School., “6th Annual Crete Community Showcase” Second Place
2021
Light Space & Time Online Art gallery., “11th Nature Art Exhibition” Special Merit & Special Recognition.
2001
President!s Art Contest & Exhibition, Homewood Art Fair, Homewood, IL. Honorable Mention.
Publications
Shout Out Colorado, Online publication, October 25, 2022, Meet Susan Johnson/Pastel artist.
Memberships:
Chicago Pastel Painters, Signature member, Union Street Gallery, Frankfort Arts Association, Red Rocks Pastel Society.
Education
A graduate of The University of Illinois, BS. in Retailing. I attended art and design courses and minored in Jewelry
Design. I was taught & mentored by Robert Von Neuman, Professor and award-winning jewelry designer.
I have had the privilege of attending workshops and demos by several artists, including Tony Alain, Julie and Michael Freeman, Isabelle Lim, Jeannie Rosier Smith, Christine Ivers, Alain Picard, and Marikay Peter Witlock. I continue to further my education through workshops organized by the International Association of Pastel Societies (IAPS).
