Susan Martin was born and raised in south Texas. Pursuing a life-long love of art, she studied art at the University of Texas at Austin and received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Art in 1966. Realizing that she wanted to share her interest through teaching, Martin continued with coursework in Art Education. A significant part of her educational experience was the opportunity to study photography and composition under the eminent photographer Russell Lee.

Upon completing their studies, Susan and her husband Patrick moved to Florida where she began exhibiting her work, as well as teaching art in the public school system. Through her experience as an educator, Martin became involved in art education advocacy efforts in her community. Though no longer teaching, she remains an active volunteer and supporter of arts education, particularly in the public schools. She serves on a number of community boards and committees relating to the arts.

Working primarily in acrylic paint on canvas, Martin explores the abstract compositions found in ordinary subject matter, in the patterns and textures of the commonplace rather than the exotic. From vegetation to reflected patterns in store windows and shiny surfaces, whether natural or manmade, these close-cropped images encourage the viewer to look more carefully at familiar objects. Recycled materials have provided a wealth of images for recent work, and some of these objects have actually been incorporated into her work.

Susan’s paintings are exhibited in museums and galleries throughout the state. They have been purchased for a number of collections, including Southern Progress Corporation, Chugai-Upjohn, Sterling Drugs, and McGraw-Hill.

Martin lives and works on Merritt Island, Florida, with her husband and their two sons.