Author Archives: Suzanne Forbes

About Suzanne Forbes

Suzanne Forbes is a traditionally trained figurative artist who makes documentary art of queer culture and Berlin life. She also works in mixed media. She is a former New Yorker who immigrated to Berlin with her third husband and their two cats. Her work is crowdfunded by the support of her Patrons on Patreon; you could help! In previous lives Suzanne was a graffiti artist in downtown NY, a courtroom artist for CBS and CNN, a penciller for DC Comics on Star Trek, and a live-drawing chronicler of Bay Area alternative culture.

More liquitex acrylic ink experiments, feat. my hub!

Dan talks to Wednesday group by Suzanne Forbes Jan 4 2023 2

He has joined a group of folks based in Oxford called “The Wednesday”, and they all talk about philosophy.

He gave a talk about “Umberto Eco and Semiotics” and I set up my little paint-drawing station with a Windsor-Newton watercolor block, my Liquitex acrylic inks, my chalk marker, and my PITT pens. I don’t know yet if I like these inks or not. I need to use liquid mediums and brushes to spare my hand and arm pain, but I never had a feel for transparent media.

So, this was a chance to try and work with it!

I use the chalk marker to bring up light values, and added a little pastel to refine a few highlights, plus watercolor markers to shade in some darks. So really it’s as mixed media as you can get. I don’t know if I like the results, don’t know if I’ll keep using the inks, and don’t know what else to try. I’m in negative capacity. That’s ok.

Hub said that “The Illuminatus Trilogy is really a sci-fi version of Foucoult’s Pendulum” because he’s a troll like that.

I’m so grateful to my Patrons on Patreon, whose monthly financial support makes it possible for me to keep working and evolving as an artist,

Drawing Sadie Lune for The Longest Night.

Sadie Lune on the Longest Night December 21 2022 by Suzanne ForbesA collaboration with Eternal Muse Sadie Lune for the Winter Solstice.

When I was working at Wicked Grounds in 2009 I was introduced to the Kushiel’s Legacy series by Jacqueline Carey. Everyone at work was a fan! Prominent in the extremely kinky and queer series are the Servants of Naamah, a church and religion of sex worker priests and priestesses. It was the perfect fantasy series for the kinky queers and sex workers of Wicked Grounds!

Sadie Lune on the Longest Night December 21 2022 by Suzanne ForbesCelebrating the Longest Night in the Court of Night Blooming Flowers is a theme in the books.

I had always wanted to do a Winter Solstice session inspired by that feeling of luxury and sworker power, and this year we managed to organize it! Sadie absolutely stunned and amazed with her makeup and styling.

Previous collabs with Sadie Lune:

The Lamp of Spring

My latest IRL portrait of Sadie, on a very cold Fall day.

Vampire Baby Jesus

Sadie in Thistle and Spire

Book release party for “As You Wish, my Lady” – vanilla

Book release party for “As You Wish, my Lady” – NSFW

Sadie’s piece in the Coven show at Schwules Museum

Sadie’s pregnancy photo shoot, documented

Vampire Lesbians of Neukoelln – NFSW

Diptych portrait of Sadie Lune and Jo Pollux

You can learn about Sadie’s work on her (NSFW) website. And here’s her Insta, and her twitter . My flickr gallery of drawings and paintings of Sadie is here!

I am so grateful to my Patreon Patrons, whose monthly financial support makes it possible for me to continue making art as a homebound disabled person.

With your support, I can work from home or safely outside and keep telling the stories of Berlin.