Susan Bez

With a lifelong passion for creativity, Susan Bez has woven a diverse and inspiring career in the arts. Educated in Boston with degrees in graphic design and early childhood education, Susan's artistic journey has evolved from acrylic painting to collage art and, more recently, the fascinating world of encaustic painting—an ancient technique using pigmented melted wax.

Susan's career began in graphic design, where she worked extensively in the semiconductor industry as a Marketing Communications Manager. In this role, she played a pivotal part in shaping corporate identities, developing advertising campaigns, trade show graphics, and sales materials, and even producing an extensive 400-page product catalog. Her expertise in visual communication, branding, and exhibit design helped establish a strong corporate presence in an ever-evolving industry.

After 20 years in graphic design, Susan transitioned to early childhood education, where she combined her artistic talent with teaching. As an Art Studio Teacher, she introduced young children—infants through age five—to various artistic mediums, encouraging creativity and exploration. Inspired by the works of Eric Carle, Ezra Jack Keats, and Aaron Becker, Susan designed classroom murals, preschool lobbies, and children’s room décor, fostering an environment rich in imagination and expression.

Collage Art: A Textured Approach to Storytelling

Susan’s collage work is a unique blend of cut and torn paper, fabric, and mixed materials, carefully layered on a substrate and finished with either varnish or epoxy resin. Her subject matter is deeply inspired by nature and fantasy, capturing the landscapes and wildlife of New England and the Gulf Coast of Florida. Whether depicting ocean life, still life, or whimsical illustrations for children, her collages bring a sense of vibrancy and movement to every composition.

Exploring Encaustic Art: Painting with Wax and Heat

Continuing to push creative boundaries, Susan has delved into encaustic painting, a technique that involves melting pigmented wax and fusing it onto a wooden panel using a heat source such as a hot plate or heat gun. This process creates rich textures and depth, adding a unique, ethereal quality to her artwork.

Now based in Florida, Susan exhibits and sells her work, sharing her passion for mixed media and storytelling through art. Her journey—from the precision of graphic design to the fluidity of collage and encaustic painting—illustrates a lifelong commitment to creativity, innovation, and artistic expression.

A Lasting Impact

With a career that has spanned corporate marketing, art education, and fine art, Susan Bez has continuously found ways to inspire, teach, and create. Whether through the structured world of design, the imaginative realm of children’s art, or the expressive textures of collage and encaustic art.

Artist Statement

Aging has allowed me to break free from constraints and preconceived expectations. In the process of creating these encaustic pieces, I initially had an idea of what they should become. However, as I began working, the materials took on a life of their own, and I learned to let go of my thoughts and engage directly with the medium. What started as an intention soon blossomed into spontaneous play and exploration, and with that, my creative spirit expanded.The works I’ve created are derived from mirrors and bar stool seats—objects that, once stripped of their conventional purpose, become a canvas for transformation. Letting go of rigid expectations has opened my eyes to the idea that anything around me can be art. Now, every morning, I rush into my studio with my coffee in hand, eager to dive into the creative process. Sometimes, I don’t even bother changing out of my pajamas. At 70, I am finally free to embrace the joy of making without the pressure of results.

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