A lifelong resident of New Iberia, Louisiana, Susan Nugent Clark has painted nearly all of her life. Originally inspired by her father's love and encouragement, Susan has developed a realist style that is reflective of her Louisiana surroundings. Susan says that she never received any formal art training until college. After studying art at Louisiana State University, and the University of Southwestern Louisiana, where she received a bachelor's degree in Art, Susan embarked on a career as artist and teacher. Susan taught jewelry, fine arts and ceramics for eleven years in the public school system, as well as private lessons for children in her home. Her reputation as a teacher has spread as far as the University of Rockies in Colorado, where she was asked to teach for the summer of 1987. As a well-known artist in southwest Louisiana, Susan has won various awards for her artwork. In addition, she was commissioned in 1987 to produce the poster for the Louisiana Sugarcane Festival, held annually in New Iberia. Susan's works have been shown in galleries and stores throughout Louisiana, Texas, Missouri, Colorado, California, Virginia, North Carolina, Mississippi, and New York, among others. Today, Susan's work can be found in over twenty-three states.

Susan's artwork mainly employs the mediums of pastel, charcoal pencil and watercolor. Along with producing portraits and group pictures, Susan also enjoys restoring old family photographs in black and white. Susan modestly describes her work as "people oriented." "I try and capture the essence and expression of the subjects involved, in order to portray who they are and what they're about..." Susan's popular black & white jazz series edition captures the essence of New Orleans' very own creole jazz, and French Quarter diversity through somber scenes that include "Jazz Funeral" procession, "Preservation Hall", and "The Olympia Brass Band." Susan has also succeeded with her works depicting the lively "Cajun Musicians." One of her most recent works showcases world-famous New Iberia trumpet player, William "Bunk" Johnson, a descendant of slaves, who taught the great Louis Armstrong how to play the instrument as a child. Susan is particularly fond of New Orleans because of its richly diverse cultural heritage and the unbelievable vibe that it offers to artists of all ages.

Today, Susan lives an austere life in New Iberia, Louisiana, a small, yet quaint sugarcane farming community in the southwestern part of the state. She and her husband David enjoy golfing, and traveling to sell her artwork at various artshows throughout the South. Susan is also the mother of three young men: Christopher, and the twins--John and Jeffrey.

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