Susan G. Hoffheimer is an artist in oil, watercolor and scratchboard. She also teaches oil painting and scratchboard. Susan is on the board of the International Society of Scratchboard Artists and a member of the Queen City Art Club, the Women’s Art Club, and the Dayton Society of Artists. She accepts commissions, if interested, please contact her. To share her love of art, she is a docent at the Cincinnati Art Museum and the co-author of a children’s book set in the museum, Identity Unknown.
Susan currently has two pieces, Iris and Age Supporting Youth, on display on the online juried show of the Dayton Society of Artists - https://daytondsa.org/exhibitions
Susan’s scratchboard, Eye of the Zebra, won a Juror’s Choice Award in the Gallery Ring Exhibition. Check it out at https://www.galleryring.org/current-exhibition.html
Two of Susan’s portraits were finalists in the Portrait Online Show at the Grey Cube Gallery. Check them out at https://greycubegallery.com/current-show/index.html
Susan’s piece, Hearty and Healthy, was a finalist in the Fusion Gallery Online Still Life Exhibition and can be seen at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27k-v8M-nNQ
Susan’s piece, Soup Tonight, was a finalist in the Camelback Gallery's "Food Frenzy" virtual exhibition. See it at https://www.camelbackgallery.com/foodfrenzy2020exhibition
Susan’s scratchboard piece, Wisdom Supporting Youth, was awarded Honorable Mention in the Drawing Category at the Middletown Fine Art Show - https://www.middletownartscenter.com/
Another painting based on a reference photo from my trip to Alaska with my daughter. This is the first time I have painted on the 4 x 8 canvas. I think it looks great in the frame too!
Once again, my grandson provided a great reference for me to work from. I loved the old peeling paint in the abandoned house against the chair left behind and the small mouse hiding beneath.
I love my memories of my trip with my daughter to Alaska. So quiet and serene.
Summer tomatoes. Nothing better. Here they are basking in the sun on the window ledge. Won’t be there long!
A little 4 x 8” still life of pears and fruit against a blue background.
A small, 4 x 8” of the Alaskan Memory II painting.
This contains on of the “fancy” plates from my mother’s collection which she displayed on the wall of the dining room. I particularly like this one because of the cut outs at two ends.
This is the final and larger version based on another of my grandson’s photos. It is my granddaughter’s hand being supported by her grandfather. I wanted to do a series of hands as subjects.
This is a scratchboard based on a photograph taken by my grandson of his sister and grandfather’s hands. I liked the hands reaching not only through space but also the generations.
It’s spring and my iris was just asking to become the subject of my next painting. This is one of my favorite vases to compliment the flower.
I enjoy painting still life. This is a bouquet of flowers I received from my Valentine. I wanted texture - hence the wallpaper. The glass bottle and the little clock are favorite pieces of mine, and I hoped they would interest the viewer..The painting on the wall was used to lead the eye out of the painting.
This is another in my “hands” series. I had to remove all of the black ink from the scratchboard except the hand and sweater. Then I inked the smokey background and drew on the branch. Then I scratched the detail of the branch, the hand, and the sweater.
These two Adirondack chairs are just waiting for the weekend to welcome someone to enjoy the quiet of the yard.
My husband spent a wonderful weekend at Murphin Ridge Inn in Ohio. Great hiking, great fall colors, and wonderful food at the Inn!
A low horizon landscape was something a little different for me. That gave lots of room for those clouds
It started with the distant trees. Then why not put in a lake. A lake needs a mother duck and ducklings. A beautiful summer day needs boys fishing. And that is how the painting developed!
This is a scratchboard based on a photograph taken by my grandson of his sister and grandfather’s hands. I liked the hands reaching not only through space but also the generations.
These two faithful guardians were photographed by my daughter while she visited her aunt. I liked that they were not interested in we humans - but in something across the river. I really liked the trees in the background and their reflections in the water.
Buy It The Guardians
Scratchboard refers to an illustrative technique using sharp knives and tools for etching into a thin layer of white China clay that is coated with black India ink.
Scratchboard can be used to yield highly detailed, precise and evenly textured artwork. Areas may be cleared out for layering with watercolors, ink, air brush, colored pencils, or acrylics. These ink and clay layers are then scraped off one by one to create different shades of color that blend into and highlight certain parts of the image. It can then be retouched with more paint as necessary.
I would love to do a commissioned portrait of your pet. A reference photo or photos would be needed. Contact me for details and prices - shoffheimer@gmail.com
I took my grandkids to Florida to visit my sister. She took us to a drive through wild life park. This zebra came right up to our window and looked right in. My grandson, a photographer, got this shot - which turned into a great scratchboard piece.
This is a second and larger version based on another of my grandson’s photos. It is my granddaughter’s hand being supported by her grandfather. I wanted to do a series of hands as subjects.
This is Little Black Kitty - or Catherine. My daughter had to find a new home for her because her boy friend was so allergic. BLK was a feral cat that my daughter rescued so to find another home was difficult. So whom else did she turn to but mom. Now, we didn’t really want a pet but what could a mom do. My daughter hired a pet mover to drive BLK from New York to Cincinnati. It was only supposed to be temporary but the little thing wormed her way into my husband’s soft heart.
A friend wanted to give her partner a gift for the holidays and asked me to do a scratchboard. I had to put several images together in order to get the finished piece.
Cricket, my sister’s dog, was an excellent subject for this piece as I wanted to experiment in adding color to my scratchboards. This was even more important to both of us as Cricket passed shortly after I finished the piece. Such a good dog!
Still life is my favorite subject. I enjoyed the reflections on the vase as well as the lace in the cloth. They really challenged me. I chose the Rose of Sharon flower because they were a favorite of my mother and our Aunt Mae. Overall, I was very pleased with the result.
This cat was one of my favorite pet works. The intensity of the look and the green eyes really gave it life. This is one that would be hard to part with.
Another raccoon visiter. Our grandson, when quite young spent the night. He came flying into our bedroom in the night yelling, “A raccoon and 3 babies”. Once we went to the room with him and marveled over the family, we went into out room and settled back down. Then, he came racing back into our room and let out a window rattling sneeze, said he didn’t want to frighten them away, and then returned back to his room.
We are often visited by raccoons, as evidenced by the damage to our roof and gardens. The crash of one of the planters on our deck is a common sound in the night. This was purchased by a gentleman who had a raccoon in his younger days and was reminded of the experience when he saw this piece.
This is one of several in a series that traces a mother robin and her young. I started with her on the empty nest, next the hatchlings, momma gone hunting for food, returning and feeding the young, a flight lesson, and then the mother again on the empty next.
My first horse as a subject. I was very pleased with the result and that my son asked if he could have it for his family wall.
When visiting my daughter in New York, we went to a cat cafe. She is a lover of cats but can’t own one, and I had never even heard of a cat cafe! The little kitten shyly playing with her melted my heart.
The son of my junior high friend went on a safari and spotted this gorilla in the forest. It was a great shot and a good chance to try a scratchboard with this much inking.
This is the puppy of a friend. She said that the only way she could get any work done was to put her in “Puppy Prison”. Needless to say, it was not her favorite place to be!
Scratchboard based on a photo taken by my daughter in Senegal. I was so happy that it sold in an art show. It was when I was sharing my success with her that in a small voice she said, “I thought it was for me.” Made me feel like a bad mother. I will have to work on a replacement for her.
When at the International Exhibition of Scratchboard Artists in Tucson, I saw this feather on the pavement of the Desert Museum. The pavement and the feather, provided another challenge for me and a reminder of my experiences there.
The third in my robin series. Mom is off getting some quiet time and the kids are cold and hungry.
The first of my robin series. Mama is on the nest keeping the eggs warm and waiting for the brood to hatch.
I had lots of fun with this fun. To get the differing values, I re-inked and scratched several times. I was very pleased with the result.
I saw this heron at the museum. He was very stately and made a good subject. Color was added with ink tense pencils.
This is the first and smaller version based on another of my grandson’s photos. It is my granddaughter’s hand being supported by her grandfather. I wanted to do a series of hands as subjects. This is my first version. I have just finished the larger version.
My friend from junior high and I still try to get together every month to catch up and enjoy seeing each other again. Lilly is her little dog and I enjoy the Lilly stories I hear while we enjoy our brunch. This was a Christmas present that I made for her.
This 4 x 4” scratchboard is an image of a gift bow. I wanted to practice achieving different values. In scratchboard, this is done by increasing or decreasing the pressure of one’s scratches or by re-inking. It is more of a challenge to master than most would expect.
I love still life. I set this one up using a soup tureen I received as a wedding present. Surround it with vegetables and a red background and it was a stunner!
The combination of the purple petals and buds and the yellow center made for a colorful composition. When the dreariness of winter hits, this is a great reminder of spring.
The yellow of the sunflower stood out against the green of the background nicely. I added the bug because my husband always asks me where the bug is when i finish a painting. For some reason, he thinks a bug is a finishing touch.
I have no idea what this flower is but I liked it against the green leaves. I think it made for an interesting composition.
I love painting an eggplant. It is such a pleasing color and always has such a great reflective surface. I was also pleased with how the onion turned out. I liked the highlight and the purple reflecting on it from the eggplant.
Painting the onions, with their peeling surfaces and the skins on the table, was a fun challenge. I like the way something like this makes me think “Now how am I going to get this look the way I want it?” And, just when I am ready to give up - it works!
This has a little of everything that I like. The shine of the orange, the juiciness of the grapes, the folds of the cloth and most of all - my grandmother’s plate. On the back is a note in my mother’s handwriting that identifies the plate a wedding present her mother received.
The yellow hibiscus is a favorite subject of mine. I have three bushes on my deck and they just continue to bloom. I included a favorite lace cloth and a Rookwood Pottery vase that belonged to my husband’s family. Lots of work - but lots to like.
I like the play on words in the title in this piece. The marigold is a favorite flower of my husband. I would line our driveway with them to welcome him home from work. I like the red, yellow-orange, and green color combination of this piece.
For several years I would go to Cheap Joes Art Store to take a week long art class. I enjoyed running away from home and spending the week immersed in art. I would paint all day with the class and then go back to my hotel room and paint most of the night. This is one of the projects I did in my evening time.
The still life with the fruit in the glass bowl turned out very well. The lace tablecloth is one of my favorites to paint. The glasses resting on the book is a reminder of another way I like to spend my time.
I absolutely fell in love with the China blue jar. I worked on setting up a composition that would allow it to be the “star” of the painting. The gold plate has been in my husband’s family for awhile and made a good supporting actress.
This painting won Honorable Mention in the Mason Community Art Show. It is a still using several family collectibles: the ceramic chicken, the little round glass vase, and the vase supporting the egg. I enjoyed coming up with the play on words title for the piece.
The hibiscus is my favorite flower and this red one attracts many hummingbirds. The green provided a dynamic background for the bird and the flower. Love those complementary colors.
Feeling a little whimsical, I set up this composition of the salt and “peppers”. It made me smile to do it and see how well it turned out.
The good old soup tureen came out again so provide for this garden still life. This sold very quickly.
I enjoy painting still life. This is a bouquet of flowers I received from my Valentine. I wanted texture - hence the wallpaper. The glass bottle and the little clock are favorite pieces of mine, and I hoped they would interest the viewer..The painting on the wall was used to lead the eye out of the painting.
I am a docent for the Cincinnati Art Museum and we took a docent trip to New England. One place we were lucky enough to visit was Andrew Wyeth’s home. This was sitting on the living room fireplace mantle and I thought was a great still life composition just waiting for me to discover it.
Whether using photos of my own travels or those of my daughter, I enjoy capturing the images and memories of travel.
This is the first time I painted an entire work with a palette knife. I like the texture it created. It was interesting to see what I would create as I pulled and pushed the knife.
I photographed this hill town while on a cruise boat in the Mediterranean Sea. The buildings nestled in the hills along the coastline appealed to me.
My husband and I enjoy canoeing. We have had great day trips with the grandkids when they were young. Here, we pulled into shore to have a picnic lunch before setting back out.
We walked this path along the stream and enjoyed being surrounded by nature. I especially noticed the dappled light on the path and the stream.
Friends of our enjoyed this bridge over the stream in a botanical garden they visited. The husband was a photographer but could not be in the shot and take it. He gave me the photograph and I successfully added them to the bridge.
I painted this one morning from inside my home overlooking the Ohio River. I did it in grays and blacks to give the misty look I so enjoy seeing.
My sister lives in Florida so I visit her yearly. I love going to the beach to listen to the sound of the crashing waves. The foaming fingers of water reaching out for me always delights.
My daughter and a friend went on a canoe trip. She sent this as a photograph. It allowed me to image the trip they took and wonder at what they discovered when they beached their canoes.
The clouds, the rolling hills, the water, and the sunshine. What could make a better subject. The boater heading to shore let me wonder about his time on the sea.
I am drawn to water, as most people are. I also enjoy the mirror effect of the reflections in the water. Most of all, I like the idea of being alone to enjoy this peaceful spot.
These two faithful guardians were photographed by my daughter while she visited her aunt. I liked that they were not interested in we humans - but in something across the river. I really liked the trees in the background and their reflections in the water.
My husband, grandson, and I biked along the Natchez Trace one summer. It was glorious - roads with limited traffic, great scenery and a sense of accomplishment. Also, the heat, the hills, no restrooms or restaurants, and the tired muscles. Such memories!
I liked these tall old trees lining the path. I added the small boy because I liked the differences between age and youth, and small and large.
I visited an animal park in Florida and saw this young lady with the parrot. She was in a black t-shirt, so I dressed her up a little and ended up with this portrait.
I had finished another black and white painting and had lots of mixed paints leftover. So I decided to do a portrait of my husband using the paints. He has a beard but didn’t want it in his portrait so I had to paint his chin, which I hadn’t seen for years.
I loved this as a photograph of a friend of my daughter, so I did it in oil. I liked the hat-a-tude she displayed with her glasses and jaunty hat.
This was actually a wedding photo of my daughter holding her bouquet. I changed the scene by putting her in a red dress and holding a bottle of wine and two glasses, looking out the window for her prince.
My granddaughter on the run with her hair flying behind her.
This young lady seemed so happy to be out and on her bike ready for an adventure. Almost makes me want to join her.
This watercolor has many of my favorites: lace, silver with reflections, rose of sharon, and apples. This painting won 2nd place at the Mason Fine Art Show.
I enjoyed the detail of this piece. The trim on the coffee cup, the lace, the panes of the lampshade, and the lilacs. Also liked the glow from the lamp against the black background.
These bottles were given to my mother-in-law by her daughter, Anne. They sat on the ledge of her kitchen window. I had always admired them and the way they caught the light. One day I snuck over there like a thief in the night and “borrowed” them for this still life.
This is my version of roses that I saw in a book. Working in watercolor is very time consuming and taxing. But the finished project was worth every minute.
I love calla lilies. These were in the garden of a country inn we stayed in while in France.
At bedtime, one night when the grandson spent the night, I went down to tell him good night. When I went into my room, there was “dogga” propped up in my bed reading one of my grandson’s favorite bedtime story. How could I not paint this scene?
These are all of my grandson’s favorite toys when he was young and spent lots of time at our house. Each has its own story.
This painting is of Murano, Italy. We were vacationing in Venice and took the boat to Murano. They were waiting for us! As soon as we got off the boat, a gentleman approached us and asked if we wanted to see a glass blowing demonstration. Of course we agreed. After the demonstration, we were invited to visit the showroom. We made two purchases. When they brought out a bottle of champagne to toast our purchase, we knew we had overpaid.
While visiting in Italy, I was walking the streets with my ever present map in my hand. The photograph my husband took was the reference for this painting.
I love riding on the Anderson Ferry. It is such a throw back to earlier days. It gives an entirely different view and experience of the river.
We had a great bike adventure in Ireland. It was one of my first oversea biking experiences. The countryside was stunning, but I admit, I was pretty terrified many times!
While in Tel Aviv, I saw this gentleman sitting on the bench watching all the girls go by. The elderly women at first seemed not impressed by him but just before she got to him she saucily flipped her stole over her shoulder and sauntered by. The scene was so touching in itself but also because the gentleman looked so much like my father. I also got a kick out of his long johns sticking out the legs of his pants.
While visiting Petra, I was impressed by the ruins and the history. But I couldn’t help feeling that the real treasure was the camels and their brightly colored saddles. They provided excitement and color.
My grandson and I spent a lot of the summer at the zoo. He liked going into the aviary to feed the lorikeets. One of them also seemed to enjoy him.
I took a watercolor class at Cheap Joes Art Shop one summer. This was a class assignment on portraiture.
I took a watercolor class at Cheap Joes Art Shop one summer. This was a class assignment on portraiture.
I have been away from watercolor for many years. I saw this couple at a dance event and thought they would make a great opportunity to get back to watercolor again.