Susan Enzensberger is a mostly self-taught artist who lives in Ottawa, Ontario. Perpetually in the pursuit of artistic variety, her creative breadth includes sculpture and casting, Chinese ink brush paintings, water colour, papier mache, carving, acrylic, kiln-fired ceramics, and the restoration of furniture and many houses, (not to mention the odd husband).
How did you hear about FluevogCreative?
Family and friends familiar with my work and my approach to life convinced me to enter the contest. The prospect of gaining more Fluevog shoes and perhaps presenting them in a suitably offbeat kind of way were all the inspiration I needed. Having raised many dachshunds (and a few children), I thought that this uniquely intelligent, distinctive and playful animal would embody the spirit of Fluevog.
How long have you been Fluevogin’ for?
A couple of years ago, my daughter took me to the Boxing Day Fluevog sale and bought me two pairs of shoes. I fell immediately in love. Just yesterday, my Finds arrived from Calgary – the last pair of Python in my size in the whole country! As I was trying them on, a man came over and told me they (and I) were absolutely superb, (and he was right!). Where else does this happen? When the Fluevog doors open on Fluevog Day on 15 May, my daughter, our neighbour and I will be eagerly waiting.
What was the inspiration behind your piece,“Who let the Vogs out”?
Pairing the Twisted Watusi with a dachshund made sense to me – both being statements of individuality, style, humour and the iconic rebelliousness that is rock and roll. “Who Let The Vogs Out?” was painted in acrylic on mat board on an unusually warm and decidedly carefree afternoon.
Tell us a bit about your creative process
For me, art has always been a reflection of life, and like life, art is what we make of it. I have always sought to capture the character of places, animals and people, but with an eye to the unusual, humourous, and even frivolous – the things that provide so much pleasure and spice to our everyday existence. A particular pleasure has been creating something extraordinary from the ordinary, a rejuvenation that I felt myself when I first tried on a pair of Fluevogs. I suppose that this is what drew me naturally to Fluevog and its incomparable variety of designs, styles and textures.
Apart from art and design, what do you like to do for fun?
Since moving to Ottawa this past Fall, my focus has been the National Art Gallery, films, antiques, and spending time with my family and many friends. I plan to continue to look for ways to represent the unusual, the enjoyable and beautiful in my art, a process I expect to be inspired through my Fluevogs.
You can check out more of Susan’s work on her Instagram page!