Susan was chosen to paint at all three "Triple Crown" horse races for 2007 and 2008, including the "Breeders Cup World Championships" and the "Travers" at the famed and historic Saratoga racetrack in New York. Susan was the first artist to be chosen paint at all of these events in a single season and has been honored recently as the Official Triple Crown artist. Susan is also the Official Artist of the 2012 Kentucky Derby winner and Preakness winner, "I'll Have Another".
Susan was invited to paint at Super Bowl XLII in 2008 by the NFL. She completed two paintings LIVE of the competing quarterbacks Eli Manning and Tom Brady, and those paintings were unveiled on FOX "Super Bowl Sunday" to millions of television viewers worldwide.
Susan was chosen for the very rare and distinguished honor to be an Official Olympic Artist for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. Susan is honored again as Official USA Olympic Artist for the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver. Being chosen to be an "Official Olympic Artist," Susan follows in the footsteps of other internationally known artist including Andy Warhol, Leroy Neiman, Peter Max, Michael Delacroix, Pierre Matisse and very few other artists who have had this honor.
Susan's talents to paint not only wildlife but a varied subject matter in any number of different mediums and styles has been recognized throughout the art world from Susan's abstracts to realism, fine art paintings, and sculptures. NASA invited Susan to paint live and commemorate the last space shuttle launch of Discovery, at Cape Canaveral, 2011.
In 2003, Susan was commissioned to create Official Paintings for the P.G.A. Nationwide Tour. Susan was the first woman chosen for this distinguished honor. Susan was honored again when she was chosen in 2004. Both paintings were inducted into the Sports Hall of Fame in Susan's Home state of Missouri.
Susan received the pretigious Ellis Island Medal of Honor in New York City May 7, 2011. She joined medal recipients; Legendary Entertainer Jerry Lewis, Actress Doris Roberts (Everyone Loves Raymond), Actor John O'Hurley (Seinfeld), Legendary NFL Coach Don Shula, & FDNY Commissioner & 9-11 Hero Salvatore Cassano. Past Ellis Island Medal of Honor recipients include six Presidents of the United States, Nobel Prize winners, athletes, leaders of industry, artists and others whose work has made a lasting impact on humanity. They are awarded annually to outstanding American citizens, from all walks of life, who have distinguished themselves through their significant contributions to this country. The Ellis Island Medal of Honor ranks among the nation's most prestigious awards. The U.S. Senate and House of Representatives have officially recognized the Ellis Island Medals of Honor, and each year the recipients are listed in the Congressional Record.
Susan's work has been seen and aired by many of the national media outlets including NBC, ABC, CBS, FOX, ESPN, New York Times, LA Times, LIFE and People Magazine just to name a few. In 2006, Susan started her own wildlife conservation and preservation foundation. The Susan Sommer-Luarca for habitat (SSL4HABITAT.ORG) was formed as a not for profit organization. Susan is committed to her vision of garnering awareness to the preservation of wildlife and its natural habitat. Susan serves as a board member, national spokesperson, and helps raise funds for the Alzheimer's Association. Susan began the first "Memories in the Making" painting therapy for Alzheimer's patients in southwest Missouri. Her mother is stricken with early-onset Alzheimer's. Thanks to the program, this therapy is now benefiting many patients yearning to express themselves. Susan is the Official artist of the Cattle Baron's Ball , the largest fund raising event for the American Cancer Society. Her father passed away from lung cancer in 2005 so this cause is also very near to her heart.
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