Meet Susan Straub-Martin | Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Susan Straub-Martin and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Susan, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I started my business right after I left the University of Arizona. Originally in 1984 Strauberry Studios &Gallery was a greeting card business. I had been doing my own holiday cards for years and I thought it would be fun to have a greeting card business. While I did have success with it at first, the more the technology grew and people were sending e-cards, the less people were buying greeting cards. So I pivoted to a graphic design firm and started to do logos and branding. I did this for about 20 years but didn’t really enjoy the work that much.
So I pivoted once again and started creating prints with a group of characters i call buddies. My first big show was a digital art show at Mac World in San Francisco. I was honored to be in a small number of artists world wide. This lead to more pieces and now 9 children’s books.
My latest book Stars Shinning Bright Above You, teaches children k-5 about the life of stars. My brother also a Uof A graduate is the astrophotographer for the book. My best advice to people wanting to start their business is don’t give up, pivot if you have to but don’t stop. If you are creative and passionate anything can happen.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I create pieces I call whimsical digital collage. My subjects are simple iconic drawings of animals surrounded by a world of pattern in layers creating almost a dimensional look. I create patterning based on what the piece is about. Sometimes the patterns are simple and sometimes they contain 50-100 elements.
About 20 years ago I created what zI thought would be a four seasons piece. The characters of “buddies” ended up with more than 200 prints. From there i started to create stories based on them. These children’s books are fun adventures but also have an element of education. One of my first books teaches kids about opposites. Polar Bears are Left Handed …Who Knew teaches right/left or polar opposites.
My art has always had a childlike wonder because I think kids should enjoy their childhoods. But I love puns so there is a lot of tongue and cheek humor for the adults.
I have had a the honor of having a piece with my buddies placed in Children’s Hospital.
My brand stands for bringing joy to the heart and soul of all who see it.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I love Tucson. There is so much to do. You can’t visit Tucson in my opinion without visiting Rigo’s Mexican Restaurant.
But going to the University of Arizona and having an Eegees is a must especially when it is really hot.

A trip to the Saguaro National Park is a must do as well.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would say my older brother Christopher Straub and my younger brother Timothy Straub. Chris was one of my biggest cheerleaders. He encouraged me to keep going even when I felt defeated. He too was an artist-much different than me but he was also an amateur astronomer and built his own telescope. Living in the desert we had great views of the night sky. He was so excited when Tim started his astrophotography. Tim is a scientist and never felt he had talent until Chris encouraged him to start taking picture out of his own telescopes.
Chris was looking forward to our book. He passed suddenly before we were able to finish it.
My brothers have always been there for me along with my husband and my best friends.
It is hard to express how lucky and grateful I am. I have had mentors, friends and family that have encouraged
me to be my best self. I am Honored by them all.

Website: strauberrygallery.com

Instagram: instagram/strauberrygallery

Image Credits
Susan Straub-Martin