“The purpose of art is washing the dust of daily life off our souls.”
— Pablo Picasso

About Me

Hello! I'm an artist born and raised in NYC with an addiction to watercolors, gouache, and colored pencils.

My pen name is Susaleena which is a combination of my first and maiden name.

Art is my escape from the daily stresses of life.

“Just Keep Swimming” - Gouache & Watercolors in sketchbook

I am a nature, botanical, and landscape artist working mainly with watercolors, gouache, and colored pencils. Generally, I’m not particularly eager to put labels on my style as it continuously evolves with each painting that I complete. I am always experimenting with different subjects and styles based on my mood and various sources of inspiration. Regardless of the painting's subject, I love to paint colorfully and vibrantly. Sometimes I find joy in expressive paintings with looser brush strokes vs. definition and controlled movement.

I enjoy the freedom of painting in my sketchbook, and I’m always focusing on my craft to improve my brush techniques, composition, and color mixes. As an artist, you will never stop “learning” or perfecting your artwork.

My paintings have been previously sold to collectors, buyers, and admirers worldwide, and I am honored to be able to continue sharing my creations.

Gallery Exhibitions & Partnerships

See all exhibits and showcase information in detail here.

Current Exhibits & Showcasing

Past exhibitions

  • 2015 - Group Exhibition, Weill Cornell Community Clinic “Without a Safety Net” Art Auction Fundraiser. Special Gratitude Artist

online gallery Features

Honorable Mentions & Publications

background

Photographer: Helen Xue

Photographer: Helen Xue

My father is the driving force for my work and the main source of motivation. He was an aspiring talented artist back in the day and introduced me to art at a young age. Many evenings were spent together in which he would try to teach me traditional painting techniques. I dreamed of being an artist to follow in my father's footsteps so I began to pursue an art education. I majored in Fine Arts during high school & minored in Graphics Design during college. By the end of college, I had strayed completely away from my ideal career with a concentrated major in Marketing and Advertising.

I hold a BBA (Bachelor of Business Administration) from NYC Baruch College - Zicklin School of Business and created my own fashion jewelry line in 2010. The line was extremely successful, and numerous works were sold domestically and internationally due to high demand.

I started my career in marketing with internships during my college years at Model Lounge NYC and Brant Publications (art and fashion print magazines etc). I moved into full-time jobs upon graduating and built a career in digital advertising over the last 13+ years, servicing a wide range of clients (see Linkedin here). At the height of the pandemic of 2020, I realized NYC was no longer the home I recognized or needed. With over a decade of media agency experience from the heart of Manhattan, NYC, this city girl left with her loving husband for the greener pastures of Austin, TX.

In 2023, I resigned from being a VP of digital media at a PR agency to become a full-time artist and devoted housewife/mother. I’ve had the pleasure of working with Fortune 500 brand clients such as Samsung, Unilever, Salesforce, Longchamp, Cirque du Soleil, etc. This marketing executive decided to pause her career to pursue her passions.

There is no better way to relieve stress than with a cup of milk tea in one hand while holding a paintbrush in the other. You can find more of my artwork, tutorials, and behind-the-scenes on my Instagram.

Inspiration Behind the Paintings

It’s no secret that NYC is a concrete jungle with tall skyscrapers that block out the sun and city lights that shine as bright as the sun at night. However, as I got older, I longed to see open skies, ocean-rolling waves, and lush green trees. Nature is rare in NYC unless you visit large parks like Central Park or Prospect Park.

Artificial wonders have never been my inspiration. I am inspired by sunsets on a cloudy day, sea waves that crash right before a storm, and the wind that whips up clouds into the wispy air. The longing for nature likely showed itself in my paintings and evolved to primarily landscapes and seascapes. I am most passionate about these subjects because it’s what I would want to see when I feel trapped in my tiny NYC apartment.

I became a frequent traveler for business and pleasure in search of nature. Japan (Tokyo & Kyoto), Iceland, South Korea, Vietnam, Hong Kong, and Shanghai were some of my international trips. Domestically, I’ve been to LA, Chicago, South Carolina, Vermont, Miami, Puerto Rico, and various others. But, I kept visiting Austin, TX, frequently over the years.

I joked with my father-in-law when he asked why I wanted to move to Austin, TX, during the summer of 2021. "Daughter, why must you live so far from me and take my son with you?" he asked. I replied, "Father, I want to see the open skies! I want to take in the fresh air and be able to surround myself with nature." He laughed at how ridiculous I sounded, but the truth is, nature is abundant here in Austin, TX (that I indeed did not find in NYC).

I hope my surroundings and love for nature continue to inspire my artwork.

Miami Beach 2019 on a cloudy morning

Photographer: The Husband