Meet Susan Bankey Yoder

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Susan Bankey Yoder. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Susan, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.

I have always had a love for animals ever since I can remember. As a child my parents would take us to zoos and animal parks. I would always be interacting with the animals whenever possible. I even rescued a few. Through out my teenage years my mindset was to have a career as a veterinarian or work with a zoo. I had a sketchbook that I carried with me and would draw them constantly. I was always outdoors hiking, observing and learning. My love for the natural world encouraged me to volunteer with some small conservation groups in my hometown, which became another good experience to help me understand more about wildlife. My father encouraged me to try working with painting mediums. He even bought me my first drawing table. From there, painting became the frontline for my passion. I studied anatomy, would read as much as I could about the habits and habitat of subjects I would choose to paint. My courses at school shifted more toward art to work on my skills. I was told by a few instructors that I had exceptional talent. This encouraged me to work even harder. I graduated with honors in art.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

My life has been devoted to my love of wildlife and the world they live in. Through my paintings I try to capture the essence of my subjects. I want the viewer to feel the animal or the landscape they inhabit and maybe even learn something. I was once called a “story teller with paint”. This was probably the most accurate description of my work. Most of my inspiration comes from interactions with what I find in nature. They inspire the stories. Getting out in the field with wildlife is the best part of my job. Traveling to places like Alaska, Yellowstone, the Everglades and Acadia National Park to name a few, are always inspiring but inspiration can be found even in your own backyard.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

I’ve had many opportunities in my career as an artist. One of the most inspirational was doing workshops with prominent artists in my field. This helped accelerate the quality of my art. I would say that whenever you get the chance to learn from an artist that has skills you admire or aspire to, take it. If opportunities come along to develop
there is always so much to gain from it. Another key to success in this field is to sketch. Drawing is the key to learning your subjects if you plan on choosing to portray in a realistic style. One more thought would to be to get out and experience things. The more you can personally connect the better you will be at telling your own story.

Okay, so before we go, is there anyone you’d like to shoutout for the role they’ve played in helping you develop the essential skills or overcome challenges along the way?

There have been many people who have inspired me in my career. Friends, family and fellow artists. I’d have to say there are three most influential people who helped me in my journey in the world of art. The first would be a mentor I worked with after high school, his name was Rudy Nappi. He was a professional illustrator from NY. When I was starting out he helped my improve my drawing and painting to a more professional level. He illustrated for book covers like the older Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys books. With his professional knowledge, he also helped me learn the business of being an illustrator. My second most influential person was Carl Brenders. His highly detailed paintings are always an inspiration to me. I did workshops with him which helped me learn to focus on the details and to take the time to get them right. His primary medium is what I have been using, which made it easy for me to learn from him. My third would be Robert Bateman. His artwork always invokes an atmosphere that makes you feel something. He is a master storyteller, using every element in his hands and mind to create amazing works of art. He is 90 years old and still making masterpieces. Truly admirable.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.susanbankeyyoderartist.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/susanbankeyyoderanimalart/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/susan.b.yoder.1

Image Credits

Susan Bankey Yoder