Behind the Canvas: Sue Layman’s Creative Process Revealed

How does a painting truly come to life? For artist Sue Layman, every work begins long before the first brush touches the canvas. Her creative process is both deeply intentional and visually expressive—an unfolding journey that blends faith, intuition, and bold artistic exploration.

Sue’s first step is prayer. This quiet moment of reflection grounds her work and sets the tone for what follows. From there, she moves into sketching—mapping out symbolic shapes that represent thoughts, ideas, or explanations taking form. These early marks are not rigid plans, but visual guideposts that allow the painting to evolve organically.

Once the foundation is in place, Sue begins building layers of oil paint on canvas. She mixes her own custom colors, seeking combinations that feel daring yet harmonious. Each layer adds depth, texture, and movement, creating surfaces that invite the viewer in rather than simply presenting an image at first glance.

The result is work that is richly textured, vibrant, and layered with meaning. Sue’s paintings reward a closer look—revealing subtle details, unexpected color interactions, and emotional nuance over time. No two viewing experiences are ever quite the same.

This thoughtful, multi-layered process is what gives Sue Layman’s work its distinctive presence—art that not only transforms a space, but continues to speak to the viewer long after it’s been hung up.