Retiree Enjoys Colorful Second Career as Artist

“Polymer and Paper: Two Dimensions and Beyond” contains approximately 40 pieces, nearly all of which are square. Intricate and precise, with clean lines and strong colors, the artwork will sell for $75-$400.

Over the course of her career, Kauder has explored a lot of artistic mediums including printmaking, jewelry making and collage. She currently works almost exclusively with polymer clay, a plastic-like substance, and has developed her own unique style with it.

Using a stainless-steel pasta machine, she flattens small pieces of the clay and blends colors together to form interesting hues. She then etches textures into the material using common household items such as lace, buttons or even the tip of a ballpoint pen. To create special effects and add dimension, she adds ink, varnish and occasionally metallic powder.

She then bakes the polymer pieces for about 20 minutes in an ordinary toaster oven. Polymer clay can be toxic. To safeguard her health, Kauder keeps a fan on and the door closed to avoid breathing the fumes.

After the pieces have cooled, Kauder begins the assembly process. She determines a focal point, and then builds out — invariably in the shape of a square.

Since she doesn’t work from a drawing, she’s never quite sure exactly how it will turn out. She likens the process to assembling a puzzle — fitting pieces together in an orderly fashion until the project is complete.

Kauder often incorporates recycled objects into her work. One piece has a key from an old typewriter that belonged to her mother; another has an antique pin she found at a flea market. She also uses watch parts, metal beads and earrings.

“Friends save all their old jewelry for me. I also scour hardware stores for interesting objects,” Kauder said.

The 62-year-old artist works out of a sunny and immaculate studio located in the Marblehead condominium she shares with David, her husband of 40 years. All her supplies are neatly organized in small dishes, and finished pieces are displayed, gallery-style, on the walls.

Originally from St. Louis, Kauder holds a B.S. in art education from NYU. When her now-grown sons Steven and Michael were young, she taught art privately from her home. For eight years, she served as art instructor at Cohen Hillel Academy.

Since retiring 12 years ago, she has focused on pursuing her own craft. A member of the Marblehead Arts Association and a private art critique group, she has shown her work locally at several places including Lynn Arts.

In addition to making art, Kauder enjoys traveling with her husband. For the past few years, the couple has done medical missionary work in underdeveloped regions of the world.

While David, a urologist, operated on patients in Haiti, Honduras and Belize, Susan brightened the lives of local children by doing art projects with them.

Susan Kauder’s show can be viewed at the Abbot Public Library on Pleasant Street in Marblehead from October 3-23, 2008.  A reception with the artist will be held October 5 from 2-4 p.m.