We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Susannah Foos a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Susannah, thank you for being such a positive, uplifting person. We’ve noticed that so many of the successful folks we’ve had the good fortune of connecting with have high levels of optimism and so we’d love to hear about your optimism and where you think it comes from.
My optimism comes from experience — from walking through hard seasons and realizing that hope isn’t something you find, it’s something you cultivate.
In college, I went through a deep period of depression. I wasn’t prepared for the separation from my family or the emotional weight of being on my own. Later, I was laid off twice — once during the pandemic and again during the AI boom that shook the tech industry. Each time, it felt like the floor had dropped out from under me. But those moments also became opportunities to rebuild myself from the inside out — to remember who I was beyond work or circumstance.
My family has always been my anchor. My dad taught me resilience — the kind that comes from showing up every day and doing the work, no matter how hard things get. My mom taught me determination and what it means to be strong, thoughtful, and grounded as a woman. Together, they shaped how I see the world: with faith, compassion, and courage. They’ve helped me grow spiritually and trust that even in uncertainty, I’m guided and supported.
Painting became my way to translate that optimism into something tangible. It’s meditative and healing — a way to channel emotion and energy into color and form. When I paint, I feel completely present and connected to something bigger than myself. Even when I’m processing heavy feelings, I naturally gravitate toward color and movement that express light and possibility.
Ultimately, I paint to inspire people to create — not for perfection or recognition, but for the sake of creation itself. I want my work to remind others that creativity is healing, that it connects us to something deeper, and that beauty can always be found, even in the process of becoming.
To me, optimism isn’t about ignoring hardship. It’s about acknowledging what’s difficult and still choosing to believe in what’s possible. It’s preparing for the worst but expecting the best — not out of naïveté, but out of strength.
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?
I’ve always been surrounded by art. My grandmother was an artist, and from a young age, I was constantly creating — painting, drawing, or joining whatever creative classes I could. I never went to art school or followed a formal path. Art was just something I loved, a part of who I was.
The real turning point came after I was laid off; I suddenly found myself without direction, unsure of who I was outside of my career. So I went back to painting, not as a job, but as a way to reconnect with myself. That’s how Foo_Artz was born — as both an artistic identity and a promise to create for the joy of it.
My work is abstract, colorful, and full of energy. I’d describe it as mystical and whimsical — a blend of emotion and movement. I rarely plan my pieces; I let intuition lead. For me, painting is a conversation with energy — a process of feeling and translating rather than thinking.
At its heart, Foo_Artz is about one simple message: Inspire Creativity. I believe everyone is capable of making something beautiful. It doesn’t matter how good you are; what matters is that you create. I want people to experience the same sense of freedom and joy I do when I paint — that pure, uninhibited connection with color and expression.
Beyond my own art, I’m passionate about building creative community. I host Art Battle Philadelphia and Wilmington, a live competitive painting event that celebrates artists in real time, and Art Party, a monthly “workshop” at FaceClock Gallery that combines art, mocktails, and self-expression. Watching people — especially those who don’t consider themselves artists — discover that they can create something beautiful is one of the most fulfilling parts of what I do. Art Party is more of a free-form “paint-and-sip” at a Nonalcoholic location focusing on getting back into the joy and play of painting.
Right now, I’m focused on growing Foo_Artz and expanding Art Party. One of my goals is to bring creative workshops into the corporate world — to help professionals reconnect with play, creativity, and mindfulness through painting. I think corporate America could use a bit more color.
What excites me most about my work is seeing how creativity transforms people. There’s something magical about the moment someone realizes they’re capable of creating beauty — that spark of self-recognition. That’s why I do what I do.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
The three qualities that have shaped my journey the most are resilience, versatility, and authenticity.
Resilience came from learning how to rebuild. Every time life fell apart, painting became my anchor. It gave me purpose and a way to feel productive again — not in the traditional sense, but in a deeply personal one. Creating just for myself was enough. During that time, I even began live-streaming my painting sessions, which connected me with people and brought joy back into my days. It’s something I plan to return to because it was such a grounding experience.
Versatility has always been part of who I am. I have ADHD, so I naturally juggle multiple passions — art, advertising, event hosting, community building. For a while, I tried to compartmentalize them, but now I see how they all connect. Everything I do — whether in the corporate world or creative spaces — is centered around connection and expression.
That understanding helped me embrace authenticity. I no longer separate my corporate, artistic, and community identities. Bringing creativity into professional spaces has made me more effective, empathetic, and human. The artistic mindset reminds me that every project is ultimately about people — their stories, needs, and emotions.
Hosting Art Battle taught me the power of vulnerability. Art is personal — it’s a reflection of the soul — and sharing it publicly takes courage. I’ve seen how transformative that act can be. Before every event, I lead the artists and audience in a deep collective breath. It started as something small but quickly became one of my favorite rituals. It reminds everyone — including me — that we’re here to create, not to compete.
If I could give one piece of advice, it would be this: start small, and start now. Don’t wait for confidence or the perfect idea. Draw something. Paint something. Post something online, even if no one reacts. Keep a sketchbook nearby. The act of creating itself is freeing — it releases pressure and reconnects you to yourself. Art doesn’t have to be perfect to be powerful; it just has to be honest.
How can folks who want to work with you connect?
Absolutely. Collaboration is at the heart of everything I do. I love working with people and brands that share the same belief I do — that creativity has the power to heal, connect, and inspire.
Right now, I’m especially interested in collaborating with wellness brands, event spaces, small businesses, and corporate teams that want to bring art and creativity into everyday life. So much of the creative world focuses on children — which is wonderful — but I think adults need it just as much, if not more. We carry so much stress, self-doubt, and structure that we forget how freeing it feels to just play. I want to create spaces where adults can reconnect with that sense of joy and paint for the sake of painting.
I love true co-creation — working side by side with other artists, event hosts, or brand partners toward a shared vision. Collaboration keeps me accountable and energized; it brings out ideas that I couldn’t have created on my own. My favorite partnerships are the ones where both people can lean on each other’s strengths — where one fills in the gaps for the other and together we make something neither of us could have done alone.
What I value most in collaborations is authenticity, communication, and community impact. I’m not driven by profit; I’m driven by purpose. The most meaningful projects I’ve been part of start with connection — when people come together to do something that uplifts others, the momentum and growth follow naturally. That is how Art Battle came along.
My dream collaborations are with companies and teams who want to bring art into corporate culture — helping employees think more creatively, connect more deeply, and find moments of mindfulness through painting. Abstract art can be a powerful tool for innovation and stress relief. I’d love to help people rediscover creativity as a part of wellness, not just work. So if you are reading this and want to book an Art Party for your HR event give me a holler!
At the root of every collaboration, my mission stays the same: to promote self-expression, emotional awareness, and mental health through creativity. Art helps people meet themselves where they are. It’s healing, human, and universal.
I’m open to collaborations both in Philadelphia and beyond — national, even international. Anyone who shares this vision can reach out to me directly through Instagram @foo_artz or by email at [email protected].
And if I could manifest one dream collaboration, it would be to host a large-scale Philadelphia artists’ showcase at the Philadelphia Art Museum — an event that celebrates the city’s incredible creative talent under one roof. I think that kind of night — local artists filling the museum with live art, color, and community — would be pure magic.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://fooartz.mayhem.my/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/foo_artz/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FooArtzzz/
- Other: https://www.etsy.com/shop/FooArtz
Image Credits
Photography done by IG @black_fyre_photos
Model @jl2486
Event @ArtBattlePhiladelphia
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