Are you always this happy?

“What is there not to be happy about?”

For over four decades, loved and, still love, portraiture. The work was perfect for me as a young mother, combining my focus on family and skills as a photographer. So proud of the work my clients and I created over the years and in awe of the people my children became. As a photographer and businessperson, mistakes, and failures taught me so much, and the successes created depth as an artist.

In 2012, when Superstorm Sandy hit, it was an especially difficult period of my life and I was, in every way, devasted. My aging mother (who was widowed) had memory issues, and espeically, one siblings was very involved with her assets and estate. The sibling rivalry of my seven siblings had become adults rife. The loved extended family had become was very painful as manipulations regarding my mothers finances were revealed. It was a terrible time, and it was during this period of my life that the storm flooded eveything. I was a single parent without extended family and with the hurricane had lost so much.

I now know, that for me, being broken opened a way to allow God in my life. People came into my life; they helped and loved me.

A few months after the storm, the opportunity to spend time in a heated saltwater pool in when I began seeing etheral images and then photographing people underwater. This helped me to heal, forgive and let injustices go. I learned to find peace, faith and love in a new ways.

It was ‘Grace’ working with Shoana, from stncreative.com - this is something wonderful she wrote!

“There was a point in my life where my measurements were 34-22-34. Yup. A very long time ago. Never going to happen again. And yes, I have beaten myself up about the fact that I will never have that body again many times. But in the meantime, I have lived. I have lived a pretty good life. I married a great guy. God gave me an amazing son and I have been so fortunate to have front row seats to witness his journey so far and hope I am here to witness so much more.

We are living in a very strange time. Media has completely taken over our lives. “Optics” have, unfortunately, become the ultimate obsession and priority for most people. It’s sad really. And whether most of us want to admit it or not, we’re all guilty of caring about what other people think of what we look like, what we think and what we do. We struggle with just being. Just being.

Artificial intelligence is the new wolf dressed in sheep’s clothing. It’s infectious, it’s contagious, it’s seductive, it’s a shape shifter. Be careful my friends. We’re getting dangerously close to losing perspective on what is real and what is not. We love the ability to use filters and change the way we look in photographs. We love making ourselves into Avatars, cartoons, pencil sketches, and more times than ever - THINNER.

Recently I participated in a photo shoot with the very talented Susan Roche. She specializes in photographing underwater – nature’s filter, or as I like to call it, nature’s embrace. I don’t think there’s anywhere that I’m happier than when I’m in the water and sun. If I could live in the ocean, I would.

This was one of the most inspiring experiences. I got to swim around in a beautiful 90-degree saltwater pool, overlooking the Barnegat Bay. I swam and danced around with gorgeous blue and white chiffon fabric as the sun was setting. It was so fun. I felt like a little girl dancing around with a tutu. Everything was perfect – the air, the water, the light. A symphony for the senses. As a water sign, it was truly my happy place. But the best part – was the outcome – the photos. When Susan showed me the shots that she got, I couldn’t believe it. That’s me? I actually felt beautiful. Middle-aged, not-so-skinny – me. Yes – I look full. But I don’t mind. This is me, now. My “measurements” are far from 34-22-34, but I don’t care. That fullness represents the life I have lived – FULL of wisdom, full of experience, full of all of the pain and beauty that the universe has bestowed upon me. And the good thing is, I’m not done yet.”

Thank you Susan for this incredible and empowering experience.

My art is about more that me - Thank You Shoana!

Live, laugh, love and, always, hope,

Susan

PS following my instagram & facebook to see more of Shoana - first you’ll see some of the top images - then over time encaustic artwork! See my work at The Grenville Hotel, Bay Head and during Miami Week at Art Basel, Red Dot this December.