Suzanne Rupp
Suzanne Rupp
Foundations & Studio Art Coach
Orleans, Massachusetts - based art coach, (see her work on Instagram at Suzanne Gabriel Rupp) believes a strong foundation in observation, value and color will help students thrive in whatever medium they choose to express themselves. Suzanne’s practice emphasizes storytelling - exploring the many different contexts in which an artist can do their work. She enjoys working with young people as their diverse projects and interests challenge her to always keep learning and to be accountable to her daily practice.
Suzanne has been a working artist for more than 25 years. A lifelong learner, she continues her own arts education through artist mentorships presently centered around loose realism. In class she has been focusing on using acrylics to produce oil like still life and landscape pieces. At Ridgewood Art Institute she studied traditional realism and the prismatic palette in oil. Suzanne brings a depth of technical knowledge and expertise that is shared through her foundation art skills coaching that she does with Artriculate students.
Suzanne is an alumni of Ridgewood Art Institute and received her BA from Rollins College.
Professionally, she has consulted on interior design projects and worked in art galleries.
Student Portfolio Work
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Sammy, 12th grade
Sammy combines strong observational drawing with a playful twist in this graphite still life. She carefully studied a selection of her favorite items, capturing their details with precision, while adding a few of her original characters to bring the composition to life. This piece reflects both technical skill and creative storytelling, blending realism with imagination.
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Sammy, 12th grade
Sammy’s graphite drawing showcases everyday items that hold personal meaning—chips and soda for relaxation, a pen for both drawing and notes, and glasses worn since 2022. The piece reflects Sammy's balance between leisure and study.
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Sydney, 12th grade
Sydney focused on improving her graphite skills through an exploration of the circling technique, understanding the qualities of different pencils, and mastering the creation of smooth, consistent value shifts using technique rather than blending stumps. During the process, we discussed the importance of creating a value scale and documenting pencil choices to enhance her technique.
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Sydney, 12th grade
This work in progress by Sydney began with an exploration of contour lines in graphite observational drawing. The session also included an introduction to colored pencils, their techniques, and a brief overview of color theory. After watching a demo on mixing and layering colored pencils, we discussed how these techniques could be applied to the leaf project, setting the foundation for the detailed work currently underway.
“I love starting with younger students because it’s such an exciting time of discovery, where foundational skills and creative exploration go hand in hand. I encourage my students to experiment with different styles, try out new techniques, and build a strong base in drawing, helping them understand what it really means to be an artist. I also emphasize the power of daily practice—just 15 minutes of sketching a day can lead to incredible progress over time. As an artist-in-residence, I strive to create an environment where students feel inspired to explore, take risks, and gain confidence in their artistic journey.”
— Suzanne Rupp, Art Coach
