Susan R. Wilson doesn’t do beige

8/6/2025

Waves of rolling farmland and crop lines often shows up in Susan R. Wilson’s colorful artwork. 

Being born and raised on an Iowa farm, the inspiration for her paintings arose from both the front and backyards of her home. 

“We had a hog lot with a cornfield in the front and a beanfield in the back,” she says.

Wilson’s art resembles landscapes, along with scenery painted on location. She paints what farmers often observe in her “Landscape Layers” painting. A similar characteristic that recurs in most of her painting is the use of color. 

“I call myself a colorist, as it makes my artwork pop,” she reflects. “I don’t do beige.” 

She’s been a lifelong painter, as were both her grandmother and great-grandmother. Her grandmother took painting lessons when she was 80 years old and stopped painting when she was 90. 

“I’m still practicing art at the same age (80). It’s not surprising I’m still doing it because my grandmothers did.”

She recalls one painting she sold in college, where she was commissioned to paint someone’s house. 

“It gives you a boost of confidence when someone pays for your work,” she reflects.

Wilson attended college late in life, and at age 38 was the second-oldest student in class. Since 1988, she has exhibited and sold her artwork. One of her paintings was selected among 13 other artists for a book about Iowa’s flood of 1993. She has been accepted into juried exhibitions throughout the country, and her artwork has sold to various art collectors. 

“I have one collector who has 300 pieces,” she reflects. “It’s nice to have people who appreciate and champion your work.”

Wilson has also displayed at art fairs for 24 years. 

“It’s a hard way to sell work, but it’s difficult to get into galleries,” she explains. “At art fairs, I can make better connections.” 

When displaying at art shows, she often mounts paintings at a child’s eye level. 

“Every year, I have a child who wants one of my paintings,” she says.

In addition, Wilson frames her artwork. She worked as a picture framer and understands the importance of selling an overall professional image. 

“A frame is like a prom dress,” she says. “You want it to look your best.”

Wilson tends to create smaller-sized paintings due to the size of her home studio. 

“The smaller the studio, the smaller your work.”

Wilson lived in Chicago for 30 years and recently moved back to Iowa to be closer to family. When packing up, she browsed through nearly a thousand paintings. 

“It’s like a postcard of my life,” she says. “It shows when I went to the beach in California and other places I traveled to.”

She says the greatest challenge as an artist is questioning if the end result is the right thing. 

“It’s a solitary process,” she says. “I get to live with it.” 

Wilson’s artwork can be viewed at the Grimes Public Library until the end of August. Additionally, visit www.susanrwilson.com. ♦