about the artist

Susan Abma’s portfolio includes captivating oil portraits of corporate executives, government officials, local celebrities, family portraits and various industry workers, reflecting not only their likeness, but their character and spirit.

In 2008, at the request of a friend, Susan went to Change Islands, NL to paint en plein air. That two-week painting trip led her on a mission to record (in her paintings) the history of the tiny outport community north of Newfoundland. She purchased a home and studio there and spends three to four months each year fulfilling that mission.

The remainder of the year she paints local scenes, still life paintings and, of course, portraiture in Leduc, Alberta where she has a home and studio. From east to west, the Montreal-born artist loves painting in Canada, and in particular its rural and remote areas.

One of three artists who worked on Project Heroes® (www.projectheroes.ca), Susan painted portraits of the Canadian soldiers who were killed in the Afghanistan War. The project, that includes the portraits and stories of the fallen soldiers, is touring Canada, currently exhibiting in Edmonton, Alberta.

The City of Leduc commissioned Susan to complete two mayor’s portraits in 2017 - one of the first mayor from 1904, and the other of the outgoing Mayor Greg Krischke who had served from 2004 until 2017.

Susan is proud to have studied drawing/oil painting under master Chinese artist Xin Yu Zheng. She has also taken numerous workshops with other talented artists such as William Rodgers Doug Swinton, and Bev Tosh among others.

            Susan Abma

                                                     FINE ART