2008 Woodie Awards
Susan Rios
A Woman with a Healing Vision Helps Others while Healing Herself
Candy Peak
Issue date: 6/5/08 Section: Profile
As self-taught artist Susan Rios watched her artistic talents and works blossom into a nationally acclaimed professional painting career over 30 years, she began to realize her painting content and interests were also leading her on a gradiently deeper personal journey beyond her daily occupation and into the world of the healing arts.
Well-established as one of America's fine artists, Rios found that the many long hours and years of working behind the canvas had left her feeling personally alone and empty. Although her works had always served as a conductor for her audience to ponder personal happiness, spiritualism and the meaning of life, Rios realized one day that she too had more exploration to do for herself in those subjects. In a search to heal herself, she realized she curiously gained healing for herself as she helped others heal as well.
Rios describes her epiphany this way, "One day I suddenly found myself standing alone, feeling unseen as a person hidden behind my canvas. I felt out of balance. I felt like the wizard in Oz," laughs Rios. "'Pay no attention to that [person] behind the curtain!'
"I felt I needed to connect with people in a more spiritual way on a daily basis. I knew that my years of work had made a major impact on many people, but I suddenly felt it wasn't personal enough for me. I could either continue standing alone painting by
myself, or step out from behind the canvas and communicate with people, one on one. I needed to feel more personally involved helping people heal. I wanted to try to help make a personal difference in people's lives that I could see first-hand. And I decided to use my art to do that."
Though Rios' paintings seem to emanate from a person who has known only life's peace and joy, Rios has won some hard-fought battles herself. With years of dark memories to
overcome of a tumultuous early home life, an alcoholic dad, and a difficult personal divorce, Rios reflects she labored hard to acquire the discipline and spiritual willpower to paint hope through the dark shadows and depressions of her past.
Well-established as one of America's fine artists, Rios found that the many long hours and years of working behind the canvas had left her feeling personally alone and empty. Although her works had always served as a conductor for her audience to ponder personal happiness, spiritualism and the meaning of life, Rios realized one day that she too had more exploration to do for herself in those subjects. In a search to heal herself, she realized she curiously gained healing for herself as she helped others heal as well.
Rios describes her epiphany this way, "One day I suddenly found myself standing alone, feeling unseen as a person hidden behind my canvas. I felt out of balance. I felt like the wizard in Oz," laughs Rios. "'Pay no attention to that [person] behind the curtain!'
"I felt I needed to connect with people in a more spiritual way on a daily basis. I knew that my years of work had made a major impact on many people, but I suddenly felt it wasn't personal enough for me. I could either continue standing alone painting by
myself, or step out from behind the canvas and communicate with people, one on one. I needed to feel more personally involved helping people heal. I wanted to try to help make a personal difference in people's lives that I could see first-hand. And I decided to use my art to do that."
Though Rios' paintings seem to emanate from a person who has known only life's peace and joy, Rios has won some hard-fought battles herself. With years of dark memories to
overcome of a tumultuous early home life, an alcoholic dad, and a difficult personal divorce, Rios reflects she labored hard to acquire the discipline and spiritual willpower to paint hope through the dark shadows and depressions of her past.
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