duo's art

About

The person behind the faces.

Hi, I'm Susan.

I was born in Beijing and grew up on the outskirts of Vancouver. As the new kid learning a new language, drawing was how I made friends.

I studied computer science and reshuffled my whole schedule to minor in fine art. Then I spent more than ten years building software. Today I live in Toronto, where I run a startup, raise two kids, and sketch a portrait every day, usually in the 20 minutes before school pickup.

I paint people, and the feeling behind their gaze. I believe art should make you feel something.

It's the process that's meaningful. The finished painting is almost a souvenir.

Along the way

  1. Childhood

    Art lessons in Beijing

    Gouache, Chinese calligraphy, traditional painting and pencil sketching.

  2. 1996

    A move to Canada

    On the outskirts of Vancouver, as the new kid learning a new language, drawing helped me make friends.

  3. 2005–10

    University of Waterloo

    Computer Science co-op, with a minor in Fine Arts, where I studied painting with Prof. Eva McCauley. Later, art studies at the University of Toronto.

  4. 2008

    My first painting on a public wall

    One of my paintings was chosen to hang at Williams Fresh Cafe, in the University of Waterloo campus plaza.

    Susan's painting of a couple on a rainy, neon-lit city street, hanging on a brick wall at Williams Fresh Cafe
  5. 2010–23

    Building software

    Engineer, then engineering leader. Drawing waited quietly underneath.

  6. 2022

    Picking up the brush again

    During a three-month break between jobs, I picked up drawing again. That year my paintings were taken on by HelloArt and shown at a few art shows. I started sharing my progress on YouTube and other social media, and began drawing every day. See the paintings →

    Six of Susan's portraits hanging on a brick wall at an art show
  7. 2024

    Started my own company

    In January 2024, a new chapter at work. The daily practice kept going.

  8. Now

    Still sketching, every day

    One face at a time. Still learning, still growing.

Questions

How do you find time to draw every day?

I don't have long, quiet afternoons to make art. I have about twenty minutes before school pickup, most days, and that turned out to be enough. A daily sketch doesn't need willpower or a big plan: just a small sketchbook, a pen, and a face to draw. Some days the page is good and some days it's messy, and both count.

More on this: How I built a daily drawing habit with a busy life ↗, You don't have a willpower problem ↗.

What do you draw with?
  • A pocket sketchbook. Talens Art Creation and Moleskine are my favourites. Watch ↗
  • Brush pens and acrylic markers for bold lines and quick colour. Watch ↗
  • A Graph Gear 1000 and Prismacolor Col-Erase pencils for the first light lines. Watch ↗
  • A fountain pen, when I want to commit to every line. Watch ↗
  • A viewfinder, to decide what goes on the page. Watch ↗
Who are the people in your drawings?

Mostly faces from photos I collect, chosen for an expression or a light that catches my eye. You can browse my reference board on Pinterest ↗.

Can I buy your paintings?

Yes. My original paintings are sold through HelloArt, my gallery. See what's available on the Paintings page.

Do you take commissions?

Not at the moment. I'm always happy to hear about collaborations, though: get in touch.

What does 姼 mean, and why "duo"?

姼 is my Chinese name: a rare character from ancient Chinese that my dad found in the 辞海 dictionary. It was the name of a princess, and means wonderful, or beauty. It's so rare that teachers couldn't pronounce it and customs officers couldn't type it. Duoduo (多多) is the nickname my mom picked before I was born, and it gave duo's art its name.

Can I use your art?

Please ask first. Everything on this site is my own work. If you'd like to share or use a piece, send me a note.

Collaborations, questions or just hello: I'd love to hear from you.

Get in touch