catching up to Susan

Photo by Meagan Lewis

We’re looking back at issue #9. Our food and gardening-inspired issue is almost sold out. Grab your copy today. 

Susan Black was a contributor to #9 and one of the subscribers we profiled in that issue. We asked her what she's been up to since that issue came out and found out that she's been busy. Very, very busy! 

Susan's print "bold floral' is available in her Etsy shop. 

What’s changed in your work/life since 2011? 
WOW! so much—my creative career has really taken off since 2011. In January of 2012 I took Beth Nichol's & Kelly Rae Robert's e-course Hello Soul, Hello Business and it completely changed my creative life. It lit a fire in me where I'd thought a fire had already been burning fairly brightly. In May of that same year because of that e-course I created a promo/portfolio pdf mailer and sent it out to my top 25 dream companies. I heard back from the first of many within 30 mins of sending it out ! I now have close to 100 of my illustrations licensed with a variety of fantastic companies. I still keep an Etsy shop well stocked (as I do find Creative Directors still are searching Etsy for artists). I have a near daily photo blog of my life in seaside Nova Scotia.

I'm a bit obsessed with taking photos and carry my camera everywhere. I think of that blog as my visual gratitude journal as well as the place where I honestly talk about the struggles & triumphs of being a self employed creative person (and one that lives in a fairly remote though beautiful location). The online world has been crucial in my growth as an artist/designer.

Susan's print 'lost' is available in her Etsy shop. 

What new projects have you released since issue #9 came out?
I have over 30 images licensed on greeting cards with Madison Park Greetings and another dozen or more with Design House Greetings. I also have many of my designs licensed with MagnetWorks (garden flags, mats, yard signs). I was recently chosen as one of 10 artists to design three sizes of illustrated garden poles for Studio M (a gift & garden division of MagnetWorks). Plus, I'm super excited to have a brand new, top-secret Susan Black gift and home decor collection being released this summer with another fantastic artist focused company. My collage illustration can be found on all sorts of products from greeting cards to wall art. I consign my work in 2 fabulous curated Nova Scotia art/design gift shops—Inkwell Modern in Halifax and Dots & Loops in Lunenburg. 

Links
Daily photo blog
Portfolio blog
Web site
Etsy shop

You can see Susan's contribution to our floral gallery in issue #9, our food and gardening inspired issue. Issue #9 is our oldest available back issue and is almost sold out.