Print Exchange 2024: Susan Clarke

Creativity has always been prominent in Susan’s life, as her artistic interests from a young age were with music and singing. She gained a Grad Dip in Music Ed. at the then Ballarat University in 1994 and became a Music Specialist in schools. Susan began printmaking when studying a teaching degree at ACU 2004 – 2007. She completed many other music and art units but found that she was drawn to the Visual Arts. This gave her the grounding to be an Art Specialist and explore her creativity in a new way, through primary teaching and in her own practice. Susan enjoys all types of printmaking processes, collagraph, lino print and drypoint being favourites at present. At ACU, Steve Davidson introduced her to acid etching and lino print. Later, she attended a number of night classes at Federation University and an engraving class with David Frazer. Susan has completed art units online, including printmaking, through OUA with Curtin University and recently has been fortunate to attend numerous workshops with Basil Hall (collagraph) and Gary Shinfield (woodblock) through GrampiansArts Susan now runs printmaking workshops for small groups at a local neighbourhood centre. She can be seen at Anderson’s Mill in Smeaton on National Trust open days as an artist in residence and is a member of the Goldfields Printmakers, Ballarat Society of Artists lnc. and GP Arts Inc. Susan encourages printmaking wherever possible to all ages.