Susan Schwake grew up in a creative family. Her mother supported her interest in art from a very young age and made sure that she followed her dream. Doing just that, Susan studied fine art at Plymouth State University with a concentration in painting and printmaking in the 70's. For the past 17 years she has run an independent art school. She developed, wrote the curriculum for and continues to work with people of all ages and abilities. For the past eight years the art school has been part of artstream, llc which is a gallery and design studio. She has curated over 70 shows both in her own gallery and as a guest curator in others.

Susan has worked with hundreds of people making art through residencies, community organizations and private schools over the past 13 years. Susan has been very active in her local city's art scene. She was a founding member of ArtEsprit.org and their first president, she has created local community festivals such as the lantern parade, and has been part of juried public art exhibitions. She helped form the city of Rochester's Arts and Cultural Plan, chaired the committee to form a commission and now sits on the commission.

What is most near and dear to her heart is her own creative expression through fine art. She tries to follow the rule to make a line every day and finds that through that process she learns the most. She does this in her studios alongside her husband Rainer who makes each day a little more wonderful than the one before.