Susan Hoffmann
2026 Artist Statement - My new work is a departure from what I have traditionally done. Instead of looking outside my window for inspiration, I have turned inward and looked inside my head and my heart. I have been moved by the Peaceable Kingdom series of work by Edward Hicks(1780-1849), an American fold painter and Quaker minister. This new work uses natural harmony as a vehicle for contemporary social and commentary. It asks the viewer to consider how art can can shape our vision of a peaceful society.
Using a photo I’ve taken for inspiration, I begin the creative process by preparing the background using a variety of surface design techniques on cotton fabric- hand-dying, over-dying, hand-painting, or batik. Once the background is set, I work from the back of the scene forward, freehand cutting each element of the composition from different cotton fabrics. (No patterns or templates are used.) The intricately cut pieces are then layered and applied with a pH neutral permanent adhesive to recreate the scene. Most of my artwork requires 10-12 different cotton fabrics; the hundreds of hand cut pieces are applied in upwards of 6 layers. Pastels and ink are used to finish each piece. Then it is professionally framed under conservation glass.
