Today we’d like to introduce you to Suzy Radonsky.
Hi Suzy, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
In 2017 and 2018, I had two wonderfully rambunctious toddlers at home. I was thinking about returning to work after those early baby years, but both of my boys were struggling in preschool settings and kept getting asked to leave. At the time, we didn’t yet understand that they were neurodivergent. I was exhausted, overwhelmed and struggling mentally because I was constantly caring for everyone else and never taking care of myself.
Eventually, we found a sitter who could come twice a week for four hours. It wasn’t much, but it gave me the opportunity to finally put my own oxygen mask on and reconnect with something that had always been a part of me, art.
I had been attending Open Studios at The Alameda Artworks in San Jose for a couple of years, secretly dreaming of having a studio space there someday. During one of those visits, I met the incredible 3D textile artist Stephanie Metz. Somehow, I gathered the courage to ask her to meet for coffee and confessed, “I’m an artist too.”
At that point, I hadn’t painted seriously in nearly a decade. The last body of work I’d created was in Prague, where I had a solo exhibition of my Prague Silhouette Series, sunset landscapes inspired by my years living abroad. During our coffee, I told Stephanie that my dream was to have a studio at The Alameda Artworks and she kindly explained that spaces were incredibly hard to come by and that the waiting list could be ten years or more.
Then, a few months later, something magical happened. I received a call from The Alameda Artworks saying they needed someone to fill a studio vacancy before the end of the year. I interviewed and was offered the space.
When I first got into the studio, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to paint. I tried flowers and naturally things we encountered on walks with my boys. Around that same time, we learned that both of our children were neurodivergent, which explained so many of the challenges we’d experienced as a family.
I created a series exploring autism through a child’s eyes, but instead of bringing healing, the work brought up more sadness than I expected. One day, my studio mate looked at me and said, “Why don’t you paint your dog? You’re always so happy when Max is here.”
Max, my beloved black-and-white Pittie mutt dog, came to the studio with me all the time. So I painted him. Then I painted him again. I created a series of portraits where each painting subtly formed one of the letters in his name; M, A and X, using his body, paws and tail.
When I shared those paintings on social media, something unexpected happened. People began reaching out asking if I could paint their pets as surprise gifts for loved ones. Those first commissions kept coming and before I knew it, Suzy Rad Arts was born.
What started as a desperate attempt to rediscover myself during a difficult season of motherhood became a thriving art career. Today, I create colorful, soul-filled pet portraits and wildlife paintings, and I still believe that art found me again exactly when I needed it most.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road.
I had only been working out of my studio at The Alameda Artworks for about a year when the Covid pandemic hit. Overnight, I lost access to my creative sanctuary aka my “woman cave.” Suddenly, I was back home full-time with my children while navigating online preschool and kindergarten. Like so many parents, I found myself wearing every hat imaginable: mom, teacher, caretaker and artist.
Creating art became something I squeezed in after the kids went to bed. Many nights, I worked late into the evening, exhausted but determined not to lose that part of myself again.
One of the biggest surprises was that people still wanted pet portraits during such an uncertain time. Looking back, I think it was because, for the first time, so many people were working from home and spending extra time with their pets. Those animals became a source of comfort and companionship and commissioned portraits continued to come in.
As 2020 went on, my husband’s company permanently shifted to remote work and sold most of its office spaces. We made a big family decision to move to our favorite vacation spot, Santa Cruz.
As Covid restrictions slowly lifted, I once again began dreaming about having a studio space. This time, my sights were set on the Tannery Art Center. Ironically, I heard it was nearly impossible to get into, with rumors of a twenty-year waiting list for studios.
Then, another bit of unexpected luck found me.
Over Memorial Day weekend, I was away kayaking when my husband called and said he’d randomly stopped by the Tannery Art Center. There, he met a ceramic artist who happened to be interviewing potential studio mates. He mentioned that I was an artist looking for a space, got her phone number and urged me not to wait to call.
I contacted her immediately. When I returned home, we sat down for an interview and by the end of the week, she offered me the studio.
Twice in my artistic journey, I had dreamed about studio spaces that seemed nearly impossible to attain and twice, the doors somehow opened at exactly the right time.
I’ve learned that being an artist isn’t a smooth or linear path. It’s a journey filled with uncertainty, perseverance and a little bit of magic. The struggles of balancing motherhood, navigating a pandemic and continually rebuilding my creative life have made me appreciate every opportunity that has come my way.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I specialize in neo-realistic pet portraits which is somewhere between realism and pop art. My paintings are colorful and vibrant while still capturing the true likeness of the animal. More than anything, I strive to capture their spirit.
The feedback I’m most proud of is something I hear over and over again from my clients: “You can feel their soul and personality in the painting.” The first time I heard that, I thought it was such a beautiful compliment. But after hearing it repeatedly over the years from different clients, it became incredibly validating. It confirmed that what I’m really painting isn’t just fur, whiskers and eyeballs. It’s the essence of who that animal is and the bond they share with their person.
I think what sets me apart is my collaborative process. My clients are involved every step of the way. They receive updates from the initial sketch to every painting session and even the final varnish. Because they’re part of the journey, they can tell me if something feels slightly off for example, the color of an eye, the placement of a whisker or an expression that doesn’t quite capture their pet. We make those adjustments together, rather than waiting until the painting is finished. Creating a pet portrait is a deeply personal experience and I want my clients to feel connected to the process from beginning to end.
Outside of commissions, I create what I call my “palette cleansers” which are scientific illustrations of nature-inspired themes that nourish my own creative spirit. These pieces are often inspired by the natural beauty of Santa Cruz, including native birds, mushrooms and other elements of the local landscape.
I also love sharing my passion for art through teaching. I host pet portrait paint nights at Steel Bonnet Brewing in Scotts Valley, where I guide people through painting their own beloved pets in a fun and relaxed environment and its also serves as a fundraiser for the Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter.
Finally, I create visual aura readings, a unique blend of art and intuition. I begin by sketching a person or animal in ink and then meditate on the colors and imagery that come through. I paint those impressions in watercolor and provide a written interpretation of what the colors and combinations may symbolize. It’s a deeply personal and meaningful offering that combines creativity, intuition and connection.
At the heart of everything I do, whether it’s a pet portrait, a scientific illustration, a class, or an aura reading, my goal is always the same: to create art that helps people feel seen, connected and inspired.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
What I love most about Santa Cruz is how vibrant and supportive the arts community is. The local art scene is truly thriving and organizations like the Arts Council Santa Cruz do so much to foster creativity through programs like Open Studios, educational opportunities and community events. I’ve also been continually inspired by how collaborative the artists here are. Rather than competing with one another, so many artists genuinely want to support, encourage and uplift each other. That sense of community has motivated me to do the same and give back whenever I can.
If I could change one thing, it would be finding more ways to connect the arts with some of the challenges our community faces, particularly homelessness and accessibility. Art can be incredibly healing and empowering, and I would love to see even more programs that make creative opportunities available to everyone and use the arts as a tool for connection, expression and community building.
Pricing:
- Pet portrait commission starts at $300 for 8×8”
- All commission pricing may be found on my website here: https://www.suzyradarts.com/pet-commissions
- Shop original art here: https://www.suzyradarts.com/shop-art
- $60 Visual Aura Reading: https://www.suzyradarts.com/visual-aura-readings
- $75 Paint Your Pet class: https://www.suzyradarts.com/upcoming-eventsbvfudog11so
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.suzyradarts.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/suzyrad/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SuzyRadArts/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suzyradonskykohout/
