Kristen Marie Schuerlein Ferry akaSuzabelle
Persistence is powerful
In 2012 I left Seattle and moved to New Mexico to a house I rented on 12 acres, site unseen. 

Why? 

A fire had been lit in me and I was ready to be an artist. 
I found Casa Mirador on Craigslist. Within two weeks, I packed the UHaul and drove from Seattle to Abiquiu, NM with everything I owned.
Casa Mirador is the brainchild of famous San Francisco artist Carlotta Boettcher
And I knew if I stayed in Seattle, it would never happen. The distractions were too great. The pull to a life that I wanted out of was too strong. 

During that time, my art always seemed to take a back seat. There was always a new client, a meeting, a networking event, or, or, or. 

New Mexico gave me the fresh start, and the physical space I needed to paint.
Casa Mirador provided a large, open space for my work, which at this time was primarily done on the floor - just like how I'd started in my garage in Seattle in the early 2000s.
About 6 months in, my life was turned upside down as I relocated to So Cal. It was love. What else would steal me away from my creative sanctuary in the desert? 

Fast forward to today. Somehow another 11+ years have gone by, and my art has been mostly dormant. It’s not for trying. 

After living in four places in seven years, I’ve made attempt after attempt to paint on the floor of my office or in the garage (not very practical in the summer heat!). 

Over and over, I’ve done my best to get my work out… and it’s never clicked. 
Circa 2016 painting in my office. Not very conducive to spontaneous creativity.
Working in less than 10 sq ft in the garage was not the best scenario for a large format artist like me. Nonetheless, I kept swinging at making my artist life happen.
Now, everything has changed. In 2020 we purchased an 8-acre property that serves as a studio and office space in addition to meeting space for our clients. It's called Sky Oak. And it saved me.
Having the space to paint was the one move that changed it all. 

Now, I have the place… and more importantly the mental framework… to be the artist I’ve dreamed of being since I finished my first large scale piece in 2006.

18 years have passed since then. But the truth is I needed those years to become the woman, and the artist, I am today.

That’s why there is no stopping me. 

It’s in that spirit that I've launched this site. I am working on a collection that is scheduled to launch in 2025 - 2026. 

Onward.
© Kristen Marie Schuerlein Ferry & Epic Life Unlimited. All rights reserved. 
 Mailing Address: 2618 San Miguel Drive #100, Newport Beach, CA 92660 • joy@epiclifeunlimited.com