A Creative Match
They say that artists can push each other to new, imaginative, and innovative heights. This is particularly true for the creative couple Susan Jarecky and Steve Cipolla.
Susan and Steve's story began in 2013 on eHarmony. Steve was Susan's first date, and Susan was Steve's perfect match. In December of 2021, the couple moved to Wyckoff from Evergreen, Colorado. Susan, an impressionist painter, and Steve, a woodturner, channeled their artistic visions into designing their partially unfinished house. With a naturally lit studio and a basement spacious enough for Steve's equipment and a pottery station, the Jarecky and Cipolla residence has transformed into an artistic haven.
Creating Together
Now in retirement, Susan, who had a career in commercial art, and Steve, a former restaurant owner, have the time to create together. Although the COVID-19 pandemic isolated people from their loved ones, it drew Susan and Steve closer to each other and their crafts. They designated a ceramic studio in their house to explore pottery, one of their favorite artistic mediums.
"She would paint, and I'd be in the garage doing my woodturning," Steve said. "And then at night, we'd come and do clay."
While Susan started painting at four, Steve embarked on his creative journey later in life. Susan encouraged him to seriously pursue his creative passion for working with wood.
"We need to do this now while we still can," she said.
Susan's Artistic Journey
Susan's family and friends supported her talents at a young age by educating her on the art world and taking her to museums. Some of her favorite artists include Hyatt Moore, Franz Bischoff, and Scott L. Christensen. Galleries have featured Susan's art nationwide, which primarily centers on nature, landscapes, and seascapes. In 2012, she completed an in-depth study of South Dakota rancher Lester Blomberg and created a "Biography in Paint" that contains scenes from Blomberg's ranch. This personal study established Susan's career trajectory of documenting rural America.
Steve's Woodturning World
Steve also draws inspiration from nature. Steve uses locally sourced wood and twigs to craft several wooden creations, such as a stool with a footrest made of paintbrushes and pens. One of the pens he created features an image of the Statue of Liberty, which he captured during one of his trips to New York with Susan. Steve admires and has studied under world-renowned woodturner Beth Ireland. He is represented by a gallery in Evergreen, Colorado.
Steve's spacious basement studio is a woodworker's paradise. It is filled with equipment such as a lathe, a kiln, and a drill press that originally belonged to his father, along with previous experimental projects.
"I save almost everything I've ever done," he explained.
Currently, he is working on making a bowl containing pieces of his mother's wedding dress.
Building an Arts Community in Wyckoff
Upon moving to Wyckoff, Susan and Steve had to rebuild their artistic community from scratch. Steve is a member of two woodturning clubs in New Jersey; together, they have built an arts community with the members of Wyckoff's Wortendyke clay studio and several other art-related local clubs. In November, Susan partnered with Jordana Parker, another Wyckoff artist, to create "Art Now," an art show hosted at Wyckoff's Club 176.
Due to the show's success and community demand for more art exhibitions in Wyckoff, they will again host "Art Now" on November 8th and 9th. Susan and Steve aspire to expand their creative circle and introduce different communities to artistic exploration and woodturning.
"We want to meet people in local areas and expose them to different types of art," Susan stated.
Painting Wyckoff
With the fall season approaching, Susan encourages any Wyckoff artists looking for local spaces to paint to visit the J. A. McFaul Environmental Center, the Zabriskie Pond, and Van Saun Park. For those interested in architectural subjects, she suggests painting houses in the neighborhood.
"There's beautiful homes to paint with landscaping," she said. "You can just pick a neighborhood and find a beautiful scene."
Commissions and Connections
Susan and Steve are currently accepting commissions. Susan has started a series of customer-ordered pet portraits, and Steve is open to creating woodturning items for anyone interested. Additionally, Susan has various pieces available for sale on her website and welcomes Wyckoff artists of all levels to reach out to her.
"I love to mentor people and just find out where their interests are, and then I can direct them because there's so many different opportunities," she said.
You can find Susan at SusanJarecky.com or sjarecky@gmail.com.
Follow Steve on his Instagram, @Stevetheonion2024 where he uploads his work. You can contact him at stevetheonion@gmail.com.
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