| Contact Suzana Achey at artist@portraitartonline.com 570-242-9853 1-866-440-8397 (toll free in US & Canada) P.O. Box 3383 Bethlehem, PA 18020 USA |
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| Portraits & Artwork, Copyright 2002-2008, Artist & Portrait Painter Suzana Mestric - Achey. Artwork/Photographed images may not be reproduced without written permission. |
About the Artist & Portrait Painter
Suzana Achey has had a life long interest in artistic portraiture. To her, each
portrait is an opportunity to express the unique spirit of the individual. The many
portraits she has painted are cherished by people from around the globe.
Suzana creates her portraits with care using only the best archival quality
material so that the artwork she creates for her clients will last for generations to
come.
Suzana jokingly credits her success as an artist to her kindergarten teacher that
took coloring within the lines very seriously. “Any child caught coloring outside the
lines had their ears pulled. So, I was very careful! I think that influenced me to
reach for perfection which led to my very realistic style of portraiture.”
Suzana also recalls in her later elementary school years having a teacher that
took a special interest in her work, who would take her out of her regular classes
to give Suzana the opportunity to paint on an easel. In 5th grade Suzana won 1st
place in a B'nai B'rith Brotherhood poster contest for her artwork and message
promoting brotherhood. She continued to enjoy endless hours of drawing
throughout her childhood and was later accepted into the High School of Art &
Design in NYC where she studied commercial art. She also studied life drawing at
the Parsons School of Design. Even though she loved being an artist, at the time
Suzana was not sure she wanted to pursue a career in art. She had a desire to
do something that would make a positive difference in people’s lives. Therefore,
she chose to study Psychology and immediately upon graduation with her BA in
1990 started her career in Human Services working with people that faced
developmental, mental and emotional challenges. Her artwork took a backseat
for many years while she struggled to balance work and family life. She found her
work rewarding, but with the added responsibilities of raising a family and being
a home maker it became draining. “I always felt so guilty going to work when my
children were not feeling well or needed me to be with them.” The idea of working
from home as an artist came to mind. Suzana immediately received positive
feedback for her work, but financially struggled for many years while
continuously developing her talent. Coming up with effective ways to promote
her work without going into debt paying for advertising costs was challenging.
Over the years her portraits improved, word got around, and more commissions
started coming in. However, often she would miss doing work that really made a
difference in the lives of others. Then slowly her eyes opened up to how she
really was making a difference and helping people through her work. Every
once in a while she would receive a request to do a special portrait. It might
have been a special gift for someone or a portrait of a loved one that had
passed away. Then one day after getting a request from a grieving mother who
had just lost her infant daughter Juliann to sleep apnea, Suzana fully realized her
special way of helping people. The mother contacted Suzana with an e-mail
about how her baby died and how she regretted not being able to get a good
professional photograph of her while she was alive. She had taken her to a
professional photographer who lost patience with her baby and recommended
she come back another time, but her daughter died shortly after. The mother
asked Suzana to paint a portrait of her daughter using various home photos that
were taken of her and explained that this will help her in her grieving process.
The mother explained how she would like the portrait completed for what would
have been Juliann’s 1st birthday and that she plans on having a family gathering
where she will say all those things she was not able to say at the funeral. With
requests like this one, Suzana realized that she didn’t actually have to be working
in a human services field to make a difference in the lives of others.
Here is the e-mail that was sent to Suzana from Juliann's mother after she
received the painting...
Suzana Achey has had a life long interest in artistic portraiture. To her, each
portrait is an opportunity to express the unique spirit of the individual. The many
portraits she has painted are cherished by people from around the globe.
Suzana creates her portraits with care using only the best archival quality
material so that the artwork she creates for her clients will last for generations to
come.
Suzana jokingly credits her success as an artist to her kindergarten teacher that
took coloring within the lines very seriously. “Any child caught coloring outside the
lines had their ears pulled. So, I was very careful! I think that influenced me to
reach for perfection which led to my very realistic style of portraiture.”
Suzana also recalls in her later elementary school years having a teacher that
took a special interest in her work, who would take her out of her regular classes
to give Suzana the opportunity to paint on an easel. In 5th grade Suzana won 1st
place in a B'nai B'rith Brotherhood poster contest for her artwork and message
promoting brotherhood. She continued to enjoy endless hours of drawing
throughout her childhood and was later accepted into the High School of Art &
Design in NYC where she studied commercial art. She also studied life drawing at
the Parsons School of Design. Even though she loved being an artist, at the time
Suzana was not sure she wanted to pursue a career in art. She had a desire to
do something that would make a positive difference in people’s lives. Therefore,
she chose to study Psychology and immediately upon graduation with her BA in
1990 started her career in Human Services working with people that faced
developmental, mental and emotional challenges. Her artwork took a backseat
for many years while she struggled to balance work and family life. She found her
work rewarding, but with the added responsibilities of raising a family and being
a home maker it became draining. “I always felt so guilty going to work when my
children were not feeling well or needed me to be with them.” The idea of working
from home as an artist came to mind. Suzana immediately received positive
feedback for her work, but financially struggled for many years while
continuously developing her talent. Coming up with effective ways to promote
her work without going into debt paying for advertising costs was challenging.
Over the years her portraits improved, word got around, and more commissions
started coming in. However, often she would miss doing work that really made a
difference in the lives of others. Then slowly her eyes opened up to how she
really was making a difference and helping people through her work. Every
once in a while she would receive a request to do a special portrait. It might
have been a special gift for someone or a portrait of a loved one that had
passed away. Then one day after getting a request from a grieving mother who
had just lost her infant daughter Juliann to sleep apnea, Suzana fully realized her
special way of helping people. The mother contacted Suzana with an e-mail
about how her baby died and how she regretted not being able to get a good
professional photograph of her while she was alive. She had taken her to a
professional photographer who lost patience with her baby and recommended
she come back another time, but her daughter died shortly after. The mother
asked Suzana to paint a portrait of her daughter using various home photos that
were taken of her and explained that this will help her in her grieving process.
The mother explained how she would like the portrait completed for what would
have been Juliann’s 1st birthday and that she plans on having a family gathering
where she will say all those things she was not able to say at the funeral. With
requests like this one, Suzana realized that she didn’t actually have to be working
in a human services field to make a difference in the lives of others.
Here is the e-mail that was sent to Suzana from Juliann's mother after she
received the painting...
Suzana, I am doing better since I received her portrait. It is sort of like I have her here again. The portrait arrived in perfect condition and looks even better in person. I can not say thank you enough. David, my husband, has suggested one thing and I believe we need your permission to do so. Her portrait is an irreplaceable item and we would like to have your permission to make a copy of it (If we are able to). Then we will hang the copy in our house and the framed original will be in a safe deposit box. We have not had the best of luck and do not want to lose it if something happens. We have been through a fire, a tornado, and a flood, if one of these things would happen again, it would be safe. I thank you again for everything you have done. You have enabled me to take the steps to move forward and my children thank you for this. My oldest, Cheyenne who is 12, even mentioned to me that I am becoming her "Same mommy" again. Thank you. Roseanne |
With the work she does, Suzana connects with people on a spiritual level and
focuses on service to others. She believes there are always opportunities to
touch people’s lives in positive ways in the work that you do if you do it with
love.
“It is great if you love what you do, but even more important is
that you do what you do with love for others in mind.”
~Suzana Achey
focuses on service to others. She believes there are always opportunities to
touch people’s lives in positive ways in the work that you do if you do it with
love.
“It is great if you love what you do, but even more important is
that you do what you do with love for others in mind.”
~Suzana Achey
| Juliann Elizabeth Morgan August 7, 2007 -January 10, 2008 |
Suzana Achey is a member of the Bethlehem Palette Club |