Signature Member Spotlight – Colored pencil artist Susan Wehrman

By: Kara Dicker

Domestic Disptute

Susan Wehrman has a lot to say about applying for Signature membership. “Whether you make it or not it is a great opportunity to go through the process,” she said. “Answering the questions, taking a look at your work and doing all the required preparation really makes you think hard about who you are as an artist.”

Wehrman, who works in the dynamic medium of colored pencil, speaks from experience. She applied for Signature status in 2019 and didn’t make it. Instead of feeling deterred, Wehrman was inspired by the value of the feedback from the panel of nationally- recognized jurors. “I stepped back for a bit and worked harder,” she said. Her effort paid off. In 2022 she became one of Heartland Art Club’s 12 Signature Members.

“It’s an important credential,” Wehrman said. “Your peers take you seriously about being a professional artist.” Additionally, Wehrman points to the impact it can have on a resume, which she believes is important, “especially from a gallery like Heartland, with its distinctive reputation.” The credential helps, she said, when seeking opportunities with workshops, publications, gallery representation, even clientele.

Within a medium that has developed significantly in quality and popularity in the last decade, Wehrman has distinguished herself through portraiture, particularly of animals. She has won numerous awards and is particularly proud of her work with the Golden Retriever Foundation; participating in their annual charity art auctions as well as two of her portraits appearing on limited-edition Christmas ornaments, helping raise more than $40,000 for the national non-profit. “I am an animal lover,” she said. “With animals it’s like I feel them.”

Like many artists, Wehrman’s journey has roots in childhood. “I loved paint-by-number,” she said. “That’s what I did. It made me feel like an artist.” Fast forward past her 42-year-career in the corporate world, Wehrman decided to revisit her early passion for art. A San Francisco trip 12 years ago proved pivotal. She became friends with an artist there who happened to be the granddaughter of Walter Farley, the author of the children’s classic Black Beauty. She decided then that she would establish her own art studio.

Wehrman has taken many workshops. She experimented with oils and pastels, charcoal and acrylic. “I tried watercolor, which was a bit unwieldy,” she said. It was the pencils, she discovered, “that just stuck with me.” In fact, she even published a guidebook, A Dog Named Bear, which offers tutorials on the medium.

Wehrman likes the level of precision that colored pencil allows. It’s also portable, versatile, and clean. Additionally, color pencil can be applied to a variety of surfaces such as wood or porcelain, which she uses in her work. Recently, Wehrman has been experimenting on fabric, where she is learning to incorporate silk ribbon embroidery. “This is really different,” she said about adding a third-dimensional element.

Heartland Art Club holds a special place for Wehrman, who finds inspiration in the creativity of others and the possibilities of an exciting medium. “I think there’s a tremendous sense of community here,” she said. “I really have been impressed with how willing everyone is to help each other for the good of the gallery.”

From her corporate background, she understands how important marketing is. “The gallery offers a lot of resources for networking,” she said. Wehrman points to the business Saturday workshops as an example. Meanwhile, she encourages members to consider applying for Signature membership. “Whether you make it or not,” she says, it’s not just about the recognition, but for the valuable experience of the process.