Susanna Blunt facts for kids

Susanna Blunt is a Canadian artist born in 1941. She is famous for painting portraits. One of her most well-known works is the image of Queen Elizabeth II that appeared on Canadian coins. This special design was first used in 2003. Susanna Blunt was only the second Canadian woman to create a portrait of a monarch for coins. The first was Dora de Pedery-Hunt.

Becoming an Artist: Susanna Blunt's Early Life and Training

Susanna Blunt was born in Harbin, China, in 1941. Her father was an English banker. She started studying art when she was a young teenager. She attended the Banff School of Fine Arts. After high school, she took private art lessons in Victoria, British Columbia.

Later, she moved to London, England, to continue her art education. She spent four years at the Byam Shaw School of Drawing and Painting. Then, she won a scholarship to the Royal Academy for another four years. During this time, she won several awards and a silver medal for her art. In 1966, before she even graduated, she had her first solo art show. It was held at the Canadian Art Gallery in Calgary, Alberta. After the show, she went back to England to finish her art diploma. In 1970, she returned to Canada and settled in Vancouver.

Susanna Blunt's Teaching and Art Career

In 1971, Susanna Blunt worked with the famous artist Yoko Ono. She helped Ono with different art projects. After that, Blunt moved to California and began teaching art. She lived in the San Francisco Bay area for three years.

She then returned to Vancouver, where she kept teaching art. She taught in both private and public schools. This included three years as a teacher in the Fine Arts Department at the University of British Columbia.

What Kind of Art Does Susanna Blunt Create?

Susanna Blunt became well-known for her trompe-l'œil paintings. This is a French term that means "to trick the eye." These paintings create an optical illusion, making flat images look like real 3D objects. In 1988, she designed an optical illusion room for the Science World museum in Vancouver.

Between 1991 and 1992, she lived in France. During this time, she participated in five art shows. Some were group shows, and some were her own solo exhibitions. She even won an award in an international art competition.

Famous People Painted by Susanna Blunt

Susanna Blunt has painted portraits of many interesting people. These include:

• Toni Onley, a painter from Vancouver.
• George Woodcock, an author from Vancouver.
• Stanley Donen, a film producer from Los Angeles.
• Steven Isserlis, a cellist from London.

She was also chosen to paint a portrait of Gerda Hnatyshyn. Gerda was the wife of Governor-General of Canada Ramon Hnatyshyn. This portrait now hangs at Rideau Hall in Ottawa, Ontario. In 1997, she painted a portrait of Prince Edward and delivered it to Buckingham Palace.

Designing the Queen's Portrait for Canadian Coins

The Royal Canadian Mint invited Susanna Blunt to join a special competition. Eight other artists from across Canada were also invited. The goal was to design a new portrait of Queen Elizabeth II for Canadian coins. The Mint already knew her work, especially the portrait she painted of Gerda Hnatyshyn.

Susanna Blunt created her image of the Queen from a photograph. She won the competition! Her portrait of the Queen was used on Canadian coins and currency from 2003 until 2023.