Sue Beeman was born and raised in Astoria and is a graduate of Clatsop Community College. When she married, she moved to Pennsylvania where her husband earned his master’s degree at Penn State. She has lived in both Harrisburg and Hershey. Although she drew most of her life, she put art on the back burner to help her husband earn his degree and began working in the travel industry. She spent thirty years in the industry as an agent, tour escort, and managed two agencies.
In 1995 Sue moved back to Oregon to live with her mother who passed away last year. Since she had become interested in photography during her travels, she wanted to return to the natural beauty of the area and began roaming the woods and beaches taking photographs. She eventually began to win prizes for her photography and became published, including the cover of the annual Chamber of Commerce tourist publication.
But when she had hand surgery, she wasn’t able to continue taking pictures. She had watched a program on Mod Podge years before, so she went outside and pulled some leaves off of her favorite red Japanese Maple and began the process she now uses, eventually adding unique paper.
Although retired, Sue has also worked part time locally for Liz Clayborn,; Safeway, and Rare Discovery and the Purple Pelican galleries. Visit her Website
First Sue finds unusual fiber based hand- made papers. She uses Mod Podge to attach them to a stretched canvas frame. She then uses pen and ink to find her design, which the paper often leads her to when working. She also uses the Podge to adhere leaves over the top of the paper. She originally used dried leaves, but they were brittle and she found that she can use them when they are still flexible and they will also lay flat on the canvas easier. She uses Rub and Buff (antiquing) to bring out the extrusions. She then uses gold leaf with sizing. She doesn’t use a sealer over the leaf since it changes
the color. She also adds touches of acrylic.