Susan Marcus Sachs

I've been a resident of Benicia for over 30 years. Attracted by the light, water and colors of Benicia, its thriving glassblowers and art community I moved my weaving studio here in 1987 from Sebastopol California. I discovered my love of integrating textures and experimenting with colors while creating woven fabrics for art-to-wear.

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I've had  a studio in the Benicia Arsenal studios since 2005. I feel lucky  to be part of the supportive artistic community of Benicia. 

My Work…

My  ongoing "Wanderlust series" is inspired by my travels. I enjoy exploring how  architectural shapes  are influenced by their landscapes- my imagined cities and villages draw from the vantage point of the traveler.  

I interpret the colors, textures, sights, and symbols that catch my attention. Travels in Australia, New Zealand, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Greece, and most recently Latin America have opened my eyes to the wonderful creative spirit that is expressed in artworks, buildings, landscapes, murals and alleys! Spending time in spectacular cities like  Copenhagen, Amsterdam, Lisbon, London, Sydney, Athens, Buenos Aires has given me an appreciation of urban art and skylines.  Smaller cities like Oaxaca,Valpariso and Santiago Chile, including the use of color on buildings, murals on large and small buildings even painted stairwells,have developed my  view of how artistic  expression can enhance our communities.

While I'm  inspired by my experiences from  cities and villages I am always drawn to nature. The colors,shapes and textures found on the Hawaiian islands, the forests of South America, and the beautiful water and sunsets of  the Greek Islands continue to stimulate my imagination.

The year of 2020, with the onset of the corona-19 virus and other tumultuous events,has forced us to change our ways of being.  My latest work, "From a Distance" reflects the disconnect we all are experiencing. Different shapes, colors and abstraction have been emerging as I work on paintings and mixed media pieces.

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My paintings in acrylic reflect  my past weaving/textile work.  I am constantly challenged to incorporate textures into my work - sometimes by adding handmade paper, using fibers to create shapes, or beginning a painting by applying texture to the paper or canvas, and then painting into it. By using multiple thin layers of color I'm able to reflect the environments and feelings they evoke . Experimenting with a variety of tools has allowed me to  find freedom in my work- going beyond paintbrushes I frequently paint with my fingers, palate knives, and hands. This allows me to add my gesture to each piece.

Please contact me for artwork pricing or if you would like to receive announcements by email or post.