BIOGRAPHY   Susan van Hoek studied art from early childhood through college in Southern Indiana, which was followed by continued studies under working artists in Montreal.  For several years her mentor in Canada was the renowned painter Yehouda Chaki.  After leaving Canada she taught art in South Florida while also working for the Florida Division of Forestry and living in the Everglades.  Later she moved to Vero Beach and taught art for Indian River Community College.  She now resides and has her studio in St. Augustine, Florida.   Her paintings have brought her many awards and are in collections throughout the U.S., Canada, and the Bahamas.  Her work can often be seen in solo shows and juried exhibitions, and she is represented by The St. Augustine Gallery at 113A King Street in St. Augustine.   She often is experimental and paints in a variety of styles that border primarily between post-impressionism and expressionism.  Though her subjects are wide-rangeing, she most often is inspired by nature and paints interpretive Florida landscapes.  Periodically she returns to one of her favorite haunts to work on a series of Everglades paintings, hoping to share with viewers her love of the great skies, the "sea of grass," and the flora and fauna of one of the nation's last great wildernesses.

Susan van Hoek - Biographical Highlights: * Studied art from early childhood through grammar and high school years and studied art  and journalism at  University of Evansville, Indiana * Continued studies with working artists in Montreal, Canada * Primary mentor was acclaimed Canadian / Israeli artist, Yehouda Chaki. * Designed Hawaiian Restaurant at Montreal Expo '67 World's Fair * Taught painting for South Florida School Boards while also working for the Florida Division of Forestry, living in the Everglades, and exhibiting in Naples * Wrote and illustrated 14 short stories based in the Everglades, published by Cable TV Guide, Vero Beach, Florida, and did advertising art for the Guide and for Vero Beach Press Journal * Served as Public Affairs Director at Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution, Ft. Pierce, Florida, while also teaching art part time for Indian River Community College and exhibiting art * Wrote and often illustrated articles for national and international magazines, newspapers and journals on Marine Science and Ocean Engineering * Authored biography of inventor E.A. Link, From Sky to Sea, A Story of Edwin A. Link, with Marion C. Link, Best Publishing Co., and illustrated book cover.  Second edition is now available through Amazon and Barnes & Noble   * Studied art on full scholarship at Florida School for the Arts * Traveled extensively, including painting expeditions in England and Spain * Served on contract as Public Relations Consultant for St. Johns River Water Management District * As Public Relations Consultant, produced a series of nine fisheries posters (5,000 each), working with nine artists, nine scientists, and five publishers, for Sea Grant College, University of Florida, and the then Department of Natural Resources (now DEP) * Participated in numerous juried group exhibitions, including museum shows, and  exhibited in numerous solo shows * Served approximately two years as St. Augustine Art Association Administrator * Served one year by invitation as Artist-in-Residence at Kenneth Dow Museum of Historic Homes, St. Augustine, Florida * Recipient of awards including two National Scholastic Art Awards while still in Indiana high school; first place in oils at Rutenberg Homes Annual Invitational  Exhibition in Naples, Florida; first place and honorable mention awards at St. Augustine Art Association, and many others in Canada and Florida * Art works are in collections in Canada, the U.S. and the Bahamas * Now resides and has studio in St. Augustine, Florida, near the St. Johns River * Currently represented exclusively by The St. Augustine Gallery, St. Augustine, Florida