Susan Barnes, a native to New Jersey, has been painting in oils actively since 1997. The artist's interest in art began early, influenced by a grandmother who was a graduate of Pratt Institute and also a painter.
Although Barnes began painting over thirty years ago, her career took a different direction while raising her children. During that period she designed and created handwrought jewelry in silver and gold, which was sold through several galleries in South Jersey. In 1995 she returned to painting starting with pastels before returning to oils.