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Artistic
endeavors have always played a major role in Susan’s
life, but none can compare with the intimate love
affair she has developed with gourds. Raised in
Burley, Idaho, Susan started with watercolor in High
School and then studied oil painting at the
University of Hawaii. She attended the University of
Utah and took classes in metal sculpture. Ten years
ago, Susan Van Seters moved to St. George and
attended classes at Dixie College in pottery and
jewelry making. Five years ago, she was introduced
to the many creative possibilities using gourds.
From cutting, carving, burning, painting and
embellishing- from simple purses, to animal gourds,
from animal masks to African masks, using feathers
and porcupine quills, jewelry, leathers, long
handles gourds, canteen gourds, snake gourds, from
single knotted gourds to double knotted gourds.
Susan made her first feather mask four years ago and
has sold one hundred since then.
Susan started
with a single burner, a hand sander and a dremel
tool. Now she has a studio equipped with a saber
detail master IV burner, a NSK 2 500 carver, a
complex dental carving tool, an optima 2 plus
burner, a razor tip ss-detail burning system, a
foredoom carver, several drills, a shop master
electric sander, a 10" table saw and thousands of
feathers, beads, quills, paints and accessories.
Over the
years, Susan has employed countless techniques on
gourds. Having taken several classes in gourd art in
California and Arizona, she is always searching for
innovative new materials and techniques that will
enhance her work. These explorations have enabled
her to perfect techniques and effects such as inlay,
carved sand ripples and various types of inks, dyes
and patina-oxidized paints. Her best teachers are
patience, practice and imagination.
The gourds
provide canvases that are as individual and unique
as the people who acquire them. Handling gourds can
become addictive.
She currently
resides in St. George with her husband Chad, who is
very helpful and supportive of this adventure. He is
also privileged to take over full time as the
official gourd burner.
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Wolf Eyes |
Zuni Warrior |
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Snake in the Grass 2 |
Horsehead Bowl |
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Indian Maidens and Papoose |
Small Dragonfly |
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Large Dragonfly |
Kokopelli |
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Circle of Friends |
Frogs and Tadpoles |
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