Susan Dade

New York City in the 70s was a perfect place for Fashion Illustrator Susan Dade. But, while perfect for fashion, it lacked natural beauty… something that pulled Susan from the busy city to North Carolina a few years ago. Now, instead of sketching models, she paints landscapes, waterfronts and other natural beauties. Her paintings are free and colorful yet detailed.

Upon graduating from the prestigious Parsons School of Design, Susan was hired as a fashion illustrator for Women’s Wear Daily, the fashion industry bible consulted by designers, manufacturers and store buyers looking for the latest trends. She was on staff there for six years when she was hired by Glamour magazine to illustrate and design ads—all connected with the major advertisers in Glamour. Her charcoal and pen and ink drawings were printed and seen nationally in The New Yorker magazine and in The NY Times as well, through the early 80s.

Her ready-to-wear lifestyle slowed down a bit when she left her position to raise a family and started teaching at a number of art schools including the Fashion Institute of Technology. After 15 years of teaching, moving to a warmer climate was looking better and better. She and her family visited Caswell Beach on vacation and fell in love with the area. In 1994, they moved to Southport, North Carolina.

Susan says she doesn’t miss the fashion sketches that jump-started her career. Her work is now shown at galleries up and down the coast. As a fine artist, Susan has won numerous awards including "Best In Show" at the Wilmington Azalea Festival Show. Her work is in many private and corporate collections nationally and worldwide.

Several of her originals have recently been acquired for the permanent collection at the Brunswick County Courthouse.

Susan Dade’s work is shown at Ricky Evans Gallery in Southport, NC; Sunset River Marketplace Gallery in Calabash, NC; and at the Corporate Canvas Art Gallery in Wilmington, NC.

Click an image to see full size
R denotes additional royalty charge