When she was a child, Susan Carlin loved drawing -especially faces- more than just about anything. At twelve she met artists who made their living AS ARTISTS, so she knew her dream was possible, and began training for her career immediately.

At 18, she began sketching portraits as part of her living, and then taught herself to paint pastel portraits and supported herself entirely on her painting income for 10 years. At age 28 she lost her mind completely and became a chiropractor. There’s no plausible explanation. After graduating, she moved to San Antonio in 1986, and practiced for 22 years. In 1990 she was the artist for San Antonio’s official Fiesta poster, and painted an occasional portrait when someone asked nicely.
In 2002 she ‘woke up’ and remembered she was really an artist. She joined art groups, painted like crazy, won awards, taught others to paint, and within a remarkably short time was able to retire from her practice and open a gallery in La Villita February, 2008. She is now the owner of Nueva Street Gallery in La Villita, showing her own work and the work of 17 other artists in a beautiful, light-filled space. She teaches other artists what she knows about painting- individually and in workshops.

Susan still loves drawing and painting faces more than just about anything.