Susan Clinard
Susan Clinard began her sculptural studies as an apprentice
at the age of nineteen. She continued her fine arts
education
at the
interest in Cultural Anthropology. Her
strong interest in
the social sciences brought her to
began her career as a social worker with the Illinois
Department
of Children and Family Services. She worked
exclusively in child
and family welfare. During these emotionally trying
years,
Susan kept sculpting intensively. She collaborated with various
fine art studios throughout
and established strong working relationships with fine
art foundries.
It is at this time that Susan first understood that sculpture was the
unquestionable voice, which would allow her to
be true to herself
while also giving back to her community.
Clinard's sculptures express her strong
affinity with Nature and her
genuine love for all human beings. Whether she is
sculpting from
models or using memories from her diverse background, she
uses
Nature's raw forms to narrate the struggles and
joys of her subjects.
Susan often finds beauty and truth in life's most challenging times.
Her passionate observation of the human body and of its distortion
by life has given her a profound knowledge of human
nature.
Together with her extensive sculpting skills, it enables her to
capture the individuality of her subjects and to create
sculptures
that express strong and vital emotions.
In addition to her figurative work for which she has been
awarded scores of commissions, Susan Clinard began
experimenting with waxes, found wood, and
textile four
years ago. Inspired from her puppetry theatre work, she
incorporated mixed media to her ceramic and
stone sculptures.
The strongest work evolving from this discovery period
are her
found wood and ceramic sculptures. Susan finds weathered
wood
with organic flowing curves and sees the human form
within it.
The ceramic heads and hands are added to the wood, illustrating
the metamorphosis from one organic life form to
another. She
also uses clear and brown waxes to soften contours and
add
fluidity to the form. The wax's
transparency glows and mutes
the sculptural surface, giving the figures an almost
dream-like
quality.
She currently
teaches stone carving at the School of the Art Institute
of
and at Gallery 37 (an award winning arts
education organization).
She has conducted
demonstrations and workshops at the Musée
Pierre Gianadda in
Museum,
and the