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Susan Sanford is a former Art Teacher for over 20 years. As a teacher of many art methods and technique and constant changes has led me to working in mixed media. I use the techniques of collage,& assemblage. I infuse my images with layers paint, bees wax, paper, type from old discarded books. I think of myself as a "Hunter and gatherer" of found objects from beaches, local flea markets, and yard sales. Just about any object is fair game. I look for treasures which are old, broken, weathered, and rusted. As I gather these bits and pieces of fabric, glass, tin, branches, shells, vintage jewelry, stamps and boxes are carefully stored as possible players in new work. Sometimes one or many of these finds will be the right size, color,or it's texture will give a work a special zing!

Nature is my inspiration for all of my work. The Crow has been my main player. Through research, I have learned that a Crow is very intelligent. Because of this intelligence.. he is also witty, a clown, a trickster, and a messenger of things to come. Crows were very important to Native Americans. These Myths and legends have given me my ideas based on many sayings, such as "counting crows," "something to crow about.". I use reoccurring symbols in my images which include nests, eggs, feathers, and other images of local birds. Often, I will ad a small painting of a local marsh painted into my compositions. Crow behavior continues to intrigue me, and they provide me with much inspiration. I am grateful for them.