About the Author

Susan Schwake is an artist, art educator, author and curator. Her passion for teaching art for over 20 years has found her working in diverse settings such as private and public schools, community organizations, programs for medically fragile children, special needs agencies, summer camps, intergenerational facilities, libraries, and her own little art school to thousands of people. Most recently she has taken her classroom online. Rainer Schwake produced the new series of e-courses called: Art Class including courses in Painting, Mixed Media, Printmaking and Handbuilding with Clay. Susan was hired to organize and create a permanent exhibition of children's art, involving more than one hundred local children. The children created the artwork for a new children's wing in the local library. She also directed a similar project with four hundred people in an intergenerational setting for a new multi-agency facility. This program was designed to bring the staff, families, and clients more closely together through the process of making art together and the artwork is permanently displayed in the facility. Following the release of her first three books of the Art Lab for Kids series Susan continues to offer workshops and programs to parents, teachers at universities, art studios, community organization, public and private schools. She exhibits her own artwork in galleries in the United States and Europe. Susan has been juried public art exhibitions, creating large-scale, sitespecific outdoor works. To date, she has curated over 100 compelling contemporary exhibitions in her own gallery with of hundreds of national and international artists' work. She worked with many corporations installing original artwork from her gallery's stable of artists. Susan works alongside her husband Rainer at artstream studios in New Hampshire. Together they collaborate daily within each facet of their creative business. Rainer holds a masters degree in Graphic Design from FH Münster, Germany, and has created award winning websites and print materials for companies in a wide range of sectors. Art for All Seasons features Rainer's layout and design, including over 400 photographs that the couple styled together and photographed. They work together creating exhibit layouts, media design work and promoting the art school, which they have built together. They wouldn't have it any other way. They have two creative children who write and make art and delight them endlessly. Website: www.susanschwake.com Gallery: www.artstreamstudios.com Blog: www.artesprit.blogspot.com

Reviews

"As a source of inspiration for my work as an Educator at The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art in Amherst, MA, Susan's books are on prominent display in our hands-on Art Studio. Her project suggestions provide an inspiring platform for discovering techniques, materials and processes that speak to learners of all ages. I'm thrilled to add Art For All Seasons to our carefully-curated resource collection!" -- Meghan Burch, Guided Art Programs Educator The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art
"Susan Schwake's Art for All Seasons, her newest volume of art activities, follows in her tradition of studio art based art education for children. This book presents high quality art experiences inspired by contemporary artists that leads to the creation of relevant and significant artwork, easily adapted for children of all ages. The foundation of the seasons and nature adds another layer of relevancy and meaning to the creative experience. Art for All Seasons is another important contribution to the literature of meaningful art making for children." -- Bill Haust, Ed. D., Professor Emeritus of Art, Instructor of Art Education, Plymouth State University