LIFE
To Ponds to Lakes to Oceans
I grew up in Ann Arbor, Michigan, with access to a woods -
with ponds! Favorite toy was a large glass jar that I could fill
with pond water and watch life forms swim around for hours.
Prime time was going to a lake or a Great Lake. In 1975 I
moved to Toronto to live on Lake Ontario, and work in props
and special effects by day, watercolors and fiber arts by night.
In 1983 I married another water fan-atic and we packed up and
moved to Florida. Never been there before. We lived, sailed
and dove around Miami for 10 years. I was so overwhelmed by
the colors and creatures, I didn't paint for a few years.
Hurricane Andrew got me to have to paint again, but also got
us to want to move away from the damage done. We packed
up and moved to Seattle. Never been there before. Loved the
rugged coastline, the new birds, especially the exotic ducks,
but from 10 years of heat and sunshine, a year of drizzle did us
in. We packed up and moved to Los Angeles.
Commercial Jobs
I have designed and built props and special effects for film,
television, commercials, theater, theme parks and retail
environments using fiber glass to fabric, puppets to robots.
Projects include huge puppets Sea World San Diego, a mock
Manhattan for New York, New York Hotel and Casino in Los
Vegas, Mayan sculptures for Knott's Berry Farm, giant
mechanical flowers for Ontario Mills Mall, Ontario, California,
model trains for GM Diesel Canada, giant Jell-O fruits and a
variety of creature costumes and wallhangings.
Slideshare of a few projects click here.
12/2010 the boat on a truck left California and splashed in
Florida. We have cruised to Nantucket and are heading south
now.
To Ponds to Lakes to Oceans
I grew up in Ann Arbor, Michigan, with access to a woods -
with ponds! Favorite toy was a large glass jar that I could fill
with pond water and watch life forms swim around for hours.
Prime time was going to a lake or a Great Lake. In 1975 I
moved to Toronto to live on Lake Ontario, and work in props
and special effects by day, watercolors and fiber arts by night.
In 1983 I married another water fan-atic and we packed up and
moved to Florida. Never been there before. We lived, sailed
and dove around Miami for 10 years. I was so overwhelmed by
the colors and creatures, I didn't paint for a few years.
Hurricane Andrew got me to have to paint again, but also got
us to want to move away from the damage done. We packed
up and moved to Seattle. Never been there before. Loved the
rugged coastline, the new birds, especially the exotic ducks,
but from 10 years of heat and sunshine, a year of drizzle did us
in. We packed up and moved to Los Angeles.
Commercial Jobs
I have designed and built props and special effects for film,
television, commercials, theater, theme parks and retail
environments using fiber glass to fabric, puppets to robots.
Projects include huge puppets Sea World San Diego, a mock
Manhattan for New York, New York Hotel and Casino in Los
Vegas, Mayan sculptures for Knott's Berry Farm, giant
mechanical flowers for Ontario Mills Mall, Ontario, California,
model trains for GM Diesel Canada, giant Jell-O fruits and a
variety of creature costumes and wallhangings.
Slideshare of a few projects click here.
12/2010 the boat on a truck left California and splashed in
Florida. We have cruised to Nantucket and are heading south
now.
Susan Ottevanger
Lives on a 31' sailboat in Channel
Islands Harbor, California, with her
husband Michael (see boat)
BFA, U of Michigan, 8/72, Fine Art &
Biology
Born in Detroit
Lives on a 31' sailboat in Channel
Islands Harbor, California, with her
husband Michael (see boat)
BFA, U of Michigan, 8/72, Fine Art &
Biology
Born in Detroit
| "3 Stars" shows my painting perspective: any side can be "top" |
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